Playing sports is a lot of fun but getting hurt isn’t. Anyone who spends more time on the field is at risk of sustaining an injury. You don’t have to forgo your favorite activity due to the risk of an injury. Below are injury prevention tips that your orthopedic sports medicine surgeon Buford, GA recommends so that you or your young athlete are on the field rather than on the sidelines.
Warm-up
Bolting onto the field and starting to play is never a good idea. Even before stretching, it is important to be a little warmed up. Warming up is an important prevention technique that should become a habit for amateur or professional athletes before activity or sport. You can do static and dynamic exercises to help loosen your muscles and prepare them for play.
Examples of static exercises include toe touches and stretches, where you remain in the position for a certain amount of time. Dynamic activities include jumping racks, jogging, and stretches where the body continues to move.
Wear protective gear
Protective gear or equipment is anything you wear to keep you from getting hurt. There is various protective equipment, including helmets, pads, mouthguards, and knee guards. The one you wear depends on the type of sport you play. Helmets are the most common protective gear which protects your head when playing softball, football, hockey, baseball, inline skating, biking, and skateboarding. It is important to wear the right helmet for your sport and ensure that it fits snugly but comfortably. If it has a strap like a bike helmet, ensure you fasten it so it doesn’t fall off when you need it.
Know the rules of the game
Every sport has the right and wrong ways of doing things. For example, if you play football, you should know how to tackle an opponent to avoid a concussion. On the other hand, baseball players should know the proper way to throw and adhere to the guidelines on the number of throws to make in a day. Doing what you are supposed to do will help you stay out of harm’s way.
Don’t play when injured
If you are a sports enthusiast, getting right back in the game might be tempting even after an injury. But playing when you are hurt or before an injury heals is never a good idea. It often leads to worse damage that might keep you on the sideline for a long time. For this reason, it is essential to seek treatment if you sustain an injury and give yourself enough time to heal before resuming sports. As a parent, if you notice a change in your child’s movement, including limping when running, you should put the athlete out of play. If you are wondering whether to apply ice or heat treatment for your injury, check out this article by Ray of Health.
Stay hydrated
Heat-related illness is a common concern for athletes, especially during hot afternoons.
Ensure you or your child has enough water during and after play. You should watch for signs of a heat-related illness, including nausea, fatigue, vomiting, headache, confusion, and fainting.
If you sustain any sports-related injury, visit your specialist at Stephen Fisher, M.D. for treatment to avoid further complications.
