Avoiding Sports Injuries

Injury has always been part of the game. It is considered as an inevitable consequence of playing sports. However, no one really likes to be injured. This is especially true for serious athletes who get sidelined due to an injury. While it seems impossible to completely prevent sports injuries, it can be reduced. In fact, as researched by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, sports injury rates can be lowered as much as 25% if only athletes take appropriate preventative action.

Helpful Tips to Stay Safe While Playing Sports

An individual can get injured when excessive stress is placed on their tendons, joints, bones or muscle. There are hundreds of different sports injuries that can potentially happen when participating in sports with sprains, strains, and stress fractures as some of the most frequent.

No matter what sports you play, the basic rules for injury prevention are as follow:

• Wear the right gear and equipment for your sport such as shoes, helmet, pads, gloves, mouth guards, protective pads, etc. These clothing and equipment are designed not only for novice athletes but for everyone to ensure safety while playing.
• Understand the rules of the game and follow them. Each type of sport has specific rules that one needs to follow in order to minimize injuries. On example is the illegal clipping or slapping of the helmet in football.
• Make sure your body is in proper physical condition when playing. If you want to play sports, training is important. Don’t assume that the sport will just eventually shape you out. You need to build your muscles as well as increase flexibility and endurance to be able to last any game.
• Don’t forget to warm up before playing. Warming up your muscles before playing a sport make them less susceptible to injuries. This is especially beneficial for those who play sports that involve quick, dynamic movements such as basketball and soccer.
• Don’t try to tough it out. If you already have an existing injury or are not feeling good during game day, just take a break. Working through the pain can only increase your risk of injuries or worsen your existing one.
• Allow at least one day of rest. Consecutive training days can increase your risk of injuries. Plan to have at least one day off in your weeklong training or a month out of a yearlong training.

Whether you’re a serious athlete or playing sports for fitness, make sure that you always have these rules in mind so you can play harder and won’t worry about getting sidelined.

This article contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis of a physician. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare providers.