Doctronic navigation menu Log In
Doctronic navigation menu
Contents
  • Understanding Burners
  • How Common Are They?
  • What Happens If You Ignore a Burner?

What Are Burners and Why Should Athletes Care?

What Are Burners and Why Should Athletes Care?

The Big Picture

Burners, also known as stingers, are nerve injuries that affect athletes, especially in contact sports. Understanding this condition is crucial for athletes to prevent long-term consequences and ensure a safe return to sport.
Contents
  • Understanding Burners
  • How Common Are They?
  • What Happens If You Ignore a Burner?

Understanding Burners

Burners occur when there's trauma to the neck and shoulder, leading to temporary nerve injury. This usually affects the upper trunk of the brachial plexus, which is a network of nerves that sends signals from your spine to your shoulder, arm, and hand. Imagine it like a sudden electric shock or burning pain radiating down your arm after a big hit during a game.

How Common Are They?

Burners are frequent among athletes in contact sports like football and rugby. Surveys have shown a significant percentage of players experience at least one burner during their athletic careers, but many do not report it. This underreporting makes it challenging to understand the true prevalence.
Burners, also known as stingers, are temporary nerve injuries common in athletes, particularly those engaged in contact sports. They affect the upper trunk of the brachial plexus and manifest as sudden burning pain or electric shock-like sensations radiating down the arm.

What Happens If You Ignore a Burner?

Ignoring burners can lead to recurrent injuries and potentially chronic symptoms that affect athletic performance. Although rare, repeated burners could result in permanent nerve damage, making it essential to address them promptly.

FAQs

What causes a burner?

It's caused by trauma to the neck and shoulder, affecting the brachial plexus nerves.

How does a burner feel?

It feels like a burning pain or electric shock down the arm.

Are burners a serious injury?

They can be if ignored, as they may lead to chronic symptoms.

Do burners only occur in football?

No, they also happen in rugby, wrestling, and other contact sports.

Can burners become permanent?

Permanent damage is rare but can happen with repeated injuries.

Key Takeaways

Athletes must take burners seriously to avoid long-term consequences.
Want to know more about preventing burners? Talk to Doctronic today!
Additional References
  1. Hershman EB. Injuries to the brachial plexus. In: Athletic Injuries to the Head, Neck, and Face, 2nd ed, Torg JS (Ed), Mosby-Year Book, St. Louis, MO 1991.
  2. Robertson WC Jr, Eichman PL, Clancy WG. Upper trunk brachial plexopathy in football players. JAMA 1979; 241:1480.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.