4 Easy Ways to Prevent Sports-Related Injuries

April 10, 2016 Francine Jones 0 Comments

Sports injuries aren’t usually predictable, and they put a real damper on the fun of amateur and professional athletic activities. Luckily, a little bit of preparation and education can go a long ways toward minimizing the likelihood of sports-related injuries.


Warming and up getting properly stretched prior to beginning rigorous physical activity is a smart practice that can prevent serious injuries. If the body is stiff and is immediately thrust into dynamic physical actions (such as acrobatic leaps, sudden bursts of speed, etc.), there is a risk for serious injury. For instance, sprinting is an explosive athletic event that pushes athletes to reach top speeds. A proper warm-up can include activities like light jogging, which raises the heart rate and body temperature for subsequent sprints.

Gear Up

Experienced athletes will know that certain types of apparel and clothing are better suited for specific sports than others. For instance, if you’re playing basketball, even on a casual level that is limited to pick-up games in the park, it’s helpful to wear sneakers with proper ankle support. Playing with low-top shoes can cause problems and make ankle injuries easier to come by. Shoes should fir properly, be stable over time, and absorb shock. Shock absorption is especially important for individuals who run frequently, such as marathon runners or half-marathon runners. Constant movement on one’s feet leads to continual stress on the bones that are found on the sole of the foot. This can lead to stress fracture injuries. Thus, wearing proper sneakers that can absorb shock and provide comfort will be imperative for injury prevention. Additionally, runners can avoid a random twisted ankle by aiming for tracks and trails that are flat as possible.

Water, Water, Water

While exercising, you can lose around one and a half liters of fluid per hour of exercise. A lack of water can lead to serious problems, including cramps, heat stress, and heat stroke. In recent years, there are a number of reports of death of high school football athletes from heat stroke. Their practice seasons often start in the summer, prior to the beginning of the school year. Rigorous running, tackling, and other physical activities under the hot sun can lead to heat stroke and hospitalizations. In the worst cases, such as that of Collin Kelly in Indiana, the incidents ultimately lead to death. He suffered from hyperthermia and the conditions were exacerbated by particularly humid conditions. To avoid such problems, adequate hydration is must. Water is an effective solution, and certain popular drinks that feature electrolytes that are lost in sweat are also excellent choices. Breaks during practices are helpful as well, since they offer a chance to re-hydrate.


Previous Post

Next Post