We’re coming up on the end of summer, which means football season is right around the corner. Not to mention, baseball, soccer, cheerleading, field hockey, even cross country, all in full swing, and all increasing your risk of a sports injury.
In fact, according to the Georgia Regents Health System, more than 10 million injuries occur as a result of sports like those each year.
These tips can help keep you off the sidelines:
- Protect yourself with rest. Constant overuse of muscles and joints makes them much more susceptible to injury. Try and give yourself at 1 day a week of recovery time, especially kids.
- Wear the right gear. Whether its shoes, pads, helmets, or mouthpieces, each piece of equipment should fit and be worn correctly.
- Stay strong and loose. Flexibility and strength training help to protect muscles and joints from overuse, making them less likely to be torn or fractured. Warming up properly is also important for this reason.
- Accept your own limitations. If an activity or drill feels painful, don’t push it. You’ll be sidelined for a longer amount of time for refusing to rest. Also, modify activities based on age and ability level. This will help to reduce your chances of getting injured unnecessarily.
If you do find yourself on the bench due to an injury, turn to the caring professionals at Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians. We offer a wide range of interventional, minimally-invasive treatment options aimed at getting you back into the game, playing at your best. Give us a call today to schedule an appointment.
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