Did you know that over 3.5 million sports injuries occur every single year in the United States in children and teenagers? In fact, roughly one-third of childhood injuries originate from sports or recreational activities.
Have you ever wondered about sports injury prevention so you do not have to go to the doctor as often? Here are some tips for maintaining your optimal health and avoiding common sports injuries in active adulthood.
Stretch Before Any Activity
Even if you feel good to go, you should always take a few minutes to stretch before any physical activities. This will help loosen up your muscles and prepare them for hard work. You are much less likely to suffer a sports injury after stretching.
Prepare for Extreme Temperatures
To prevent common sports injuries, you should try to avoid playing in extreme temperatures as much as possible. However, since this may be inevitable with tournament schedules, try your best to accommodate.
Stay hydrated and cool to avoid conditions like heatstroke. In cooler temperatures, make sure to have layers and keep yourself warm to prevent the onset of conditions like hypothermia.
Strengthen Your Muscles
To avoid common sports injuries, you should consistently do exercises to strengthen your muscles. You can work with a personal trainer or start lifting at the gym to bulk up. Stronger muscles are less likely to tear and cause injuries from physical activities.
Check With Your Doctor
Before doing any physical activities, you should always make sure your doctor knows about your intentions. Your doctor may be able to evaluate your medical history and determine if it is a good idea for your optimal health.
Regular sports physicals will allow your doctor to look for any injuries and ask some questions about your physical activities. For instance, if you have a history of knee injuries, then running a marathon is probably not a good idea.
Rest When You Have Pain
If you feel that you pushed yourself too much, then it is always best to rest before getting back out onto the field. Even if you only feel a little bit of pain, the healthcare industry encourages resting the body part to avoid further damage.
Once you get an all-clear from your doctor, you can ease back into your physical activities. Do not go too fast, because it could set your healing back.
Learn More About Sports Injury Prevention
If you or your children participate in sports, you should learn all about common sports injuries and how to make sure they happen as rarely as possible. With these tips for sports injury prevention, you can play safely and enjoy the game, rather than worrying about getting hurt all the time.
Would you like to learn more about how you can keep yourself healthy in any situation? Check out the Health section of our site for more tips, tricks, and inspiration for maintaining a fit body.
