World Cup is over. It was a good run for sure. France emerged victorious, but Croatia sure was inspiring to the world. Croatia, situated on the Balkan Peninsula is a country with a population (a little over 4 million) that is similar to some of our cities in the United States. It’s small, but mighty. World Cup proved to be another exciting event to watch for soccer fans.
If you’re a soccer player, there are important steps you should take to prevent injury after you play. A proper cool down is important for a long and injury-free future with the sport of soccer. While warm-up routines are common for soccer players and teams, a proper cool-down is often overlooked due to the post-game celebrations or remorse for the loss.
Post-game Cool-downs
- Take a few minutes to do a light jog after the game.
- Static stretching should follow your light jog. Start your stretching from the bottom portion of your body and work your way up to your neck and shoulder to ensure you don’t miss a part of your body. Be sure to focus on your groin and hips to help with range of motion in the legs (the most valuable weapon of soccer players).
Use the cool-down time to recap the practice or game and to ensure your team is less likely to be injured in the future. If you play any sport, injury prevention is important, but if you do happen to get injured be sure to call Ortho Sport & Spine Physicians.
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