There are many benefits of participating in sports. Your overall wellbeing will improve as a result of this. But there are some risks in the form of sports related injuries. These can be minor strains and sprains to severe concussions and fractures. Some injuries can be inevitable when it comes to high impact sports but you need to take proactive steps to minimise your risk and improve safety.

If you have sustained an injury,

You can book an appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon such as Dr. Matt Barnes for a consultation. It is important to select a reputed orthopaedic surgeon who is known for their expertise, experience and positive track record. They will also be able to educate you on how you can prevent sports injuries. One of the important steps in ensuring your safety is properly warming up and stretching before you engage in physical activity. You have to start with dynamic warm-up exercises. Some examples of this are jumping jacks, arm circles and jogging. These exercises will increase blood flow and loosen up stiff muscles. You can then start doing stretching exercises that target major muscle groups in your body by doing torso twists and leg swings. These will help improve your range of motion. When you warm up, your risk of soft tissue injuries such as ligament sprains and muscle strains will be reduced.

You also need to use protective gear depending on your sport.

This can be knee pads, eye protection, shin guards, elbow pads, helmets, mouthguards and padded gloves. You need to choose high quality protective gear that fits well. They should meet safety standards so that they can provide you with adequate protection for your activity. If your gear is worn out or damaged, you will need to replace them immediately. When you master proper technique in your sport, it will help prevent sports injuries along with optimising your performance. You need to focus on the correct biomechanics and form so that the stress on your joints will be minimised. This will reduce your risk of injury. Trainers, coaches and experienced athletes will help you refine the proper technique and you will need to consistently practice this so that it becomes a habit and goes into your muscle memory.

When you are starting a new sport or a new fitness routine,

You shouldn’t push yourself too hard. You have to increase duration, intensity and frequency of the workout gradually over time so that your body can adapt to these movements. This way, your body will be able to build endurance and strength gradually. You need to pay attention to your body and adjust your training so that you can prevent burnout and overuse injuries. You need to have recovery strategies, rest days and cross-training activities in your routine. Some of the recovery strategies to include are stretching, foam rolling and hydration. Staying hydrated and ensuring proper nutrition will help support your athletic performance and recovery. It will also help prevent injuries. You need to drink plenty of water before the activity as well as during and afterwards so that any lost fluids can be replaced.

 

Tags: