Two of the most common questions that sports medicine specialists and physical therapists get from players and parents about injuries are, “What’s the difference between discomfort and pain?” and “Is it okay for me/my child to keep playing if I/they just have a little bit of pain?” Depending on the type of injury, players will either be advised to take some time off or get the green light to play ball.
The most important thing to consider is the diagnosis. In order to best assess whether a player should play through the pain or not, he should visit a qualified medical practitioner to figure out exactly what’s causing the pain and if it’s something that if aggravated can lead to more serious injuries. If that’s the case, sitting out to allow healing is a must.