Benefits of CBD for Athletes and Football Players
Sports athletes, especially those at the professional level, regularly place an enormous amount of stress on their bodies. The exertions of training help increase performance but also result in physical trauma in individuals in certain sports. Those who make their living in track and field find that the wear and tear on their joints is extraordinary and occasionally debilitating.
Common injuries include:
- Spine fractures in pole vaulters.
- Rotator cuff injuries in shot putters and javelin throwers.
- Hip pain due to tendonitis in long-distance runners.
- Knee and ankle injuries in long jumpers and runners.
Those who compete in sports such as American football face even worse long-term damage. The most frequent injury sustained in the NFL is a concussion. However, there are also:
- Cardiac contusions
- Splenic lacerations
- Kidney injuries
- Orthopedic injuries to the ankle, shoulder, knee, and foot
All of the above leads to chronic use of OTC medications and opioids. Once considered ‘safe,’ there is no evidence that OTC drugs cause a significantly higher health risk than previously known.
These days, football players are using CBD oil from purekana in their droves. Former players have routinely outlined how they used cannabidiol to help with their recovery. However, they have needed to do so after their careers are finished due to the NFL’s anti-cannabinoid policy. It looks as if things are changing, though, which is excellent news for those wishing to combine CBD and football.
Let’s check out the possible benefits of CBD for football players and athletes.
How Can Football Players Benefit from CBD?
There is a growing concern over how athletes are becoming addicted to NSAIDs and opioids, both of which carry a slew of side effects. It seems as if the long-term usage of NSAIDs increases the risk of stroke and heart attack. Meanwhile, the number of people who die from an opioid overdose has reached extraordinary levels. We are fast approaching 150 deaths every single day in the United States!
A study from 2008 found that cannabinoid-based products have minimal adverse effects, and those that occur are overwhelmingly minor. The use of CBD in football is increasing as players realize that they can potentially reduce or even eliminate the use of opioids and NSAIDs as analgesics.
Inflammation is a significant issue amongst athletes. A little of it is a good thing as it can lead to positive training adaptations. However, excess inflammation hurts performance and slows recovery. It seems as if CBD has an indirect effect on the endocannabinoid system’s CB1 and CB2 receptors.
The CB2 receptors in the immune tissue are especially relevant when discussing CBD and f
football. When cannabinoids bind to these receptors, they could reduce the production of cell messengers. This means your immune system’s response to hard workouts is dialed back, thus reducing inflammation.
The above is what a study published in Future Medicinal Chemistry in 2010 found.
Rest and Recovery
Getting enough sleep is essential if you wish to recover from hard training and matches effectively. It so happens that athletes are at greater risk of sleep disorders than the general public. An estimated 25% of athletes have a clinical sleep disorder. Common issues include insomnia, problems falling asleep, and sleep apnea.
The NFL has an even bigger problem in this regard. A study from 2018 found that over 50% of football players suffer from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). It was particularly prevalent in retired linemen. Reasons for such a high rate amongst players in that position include obesity and large waist circumference.
It is fair to say that travel during the season also plays a role in sleep disorders as players suffer from jet lag. Complications of sleep apnea include increased risk of injury and accident due to decreased reaction time along with cognitive impairment when awake.
Football players that use CBD oil could enjoy a better quality of sleep. There is a belief that CBD inhibits adenosine triphosphate (ATP) reuptake. When your brain burns carbohydrates for energy, ATP breaks down and accumulates in the brain. It binds to neurons and inhibits neurotransmitter release. This slows down the brain’s activity levels, thus helping you feel calm and inducing sleep.
Final Thoughts on the Benefits of CBD for Athletes and Football Players
More research is required, but it seems as if CBD could help athletes with pain, inflammation, and sleep disorders. Former football players such as Terrell Davis continue to promote CBD as a painkiller.
For years, the NFL has railed against the idea, but its resistance finally broke in 2020. As part of the NFLPA Agreement, the NFL now allows CBD and football to mix. The players can use CBD oil and other products with low concentrations of THC to enhance wellbeing and health. It comes too late for hundreds of players forced into early retirement but could prove extremely useful to the current generation.
Those seeking high-quality CBD oil need look no further than PureKana. It is one of the nation’s top-rated brands and ticks all the boxes in terms of quality and reputation.
