As the school season is starting up, so are the many school sports that your student-athletes love. Before returning to the field, court, or track, make sure to take measures to prevent injuries. Because a safe season is a successful season.
Pressure to perform can cause young athletes to become reckless, putting themselves at risk of an injury. While it is important to do your best at a winning performance, a serious sports injury can end the season for an athlete. Prevent sports injuries this back-to-school season with these helpful protection measures:
- Get a Preseason Physical: Before every sports season, it is important to have a physical examination by your doctor to ensure your body is healthy and cleared to get back into your sport.
- Always Warm-Up: No matter the age, warming up your body before a workout or game is essential to get your blood flowing and prepare your body for activity. If you jump right into physical activity before warming up, your muscles will not be ready and can risk injury.
- Practice Strength and Stretching: Outside of your sport, you can implement strength training and stretching exercises into your workout routine. This will allow you to build muscle to protect your joints and encourage flexibility, lowering the likelihood of a sports injury.
- Prioritize Rest: Many sports injuries are due to overuse. Make sure to prioritize rest following an intense game or practice as your muscles and joints need time to recover.
- Wear Proper Gear: Investing in proper gear for your sport is essential. Ill-fitted or poorly made gear can leave you prone to injury. Proper gear like quality padding, supportive footwear, or fitted helmets can protect you from injury.
- Hydrate: Neglecting to drink enough fluids can leave your joints more prone to injury as they won’t be properly lubricated. Be sure to drink plenty of water during your breaks to avoid an injury.
- Listen to Your Body: Your body will always alert you when it is being pushed too far. Make sure to listen so that you don’t overdo it and get hurt.
There are multiple strategies to prevent sports injuries during this back-to-school season. For more guidance, reach out to the physicians at Hinsdale Orthopedics at Munster for their expert sports medicine advice today!
Author: Dr. Ronak Patel is a fellowship trained orthopaedic surgeon specializing in all sports medicine injuries for adolescents and adults, including knee, shoulder and elbow. Dr. Patel provides comprehensive care for the musculoskeletal system treating acute injuries in Munster, Indiana.