How to Avoid All Those Common Fall Sports Injuries
With fall sports well under way, it’s important to be aware of the injuries that can come from game play. Fractures, strains, sprains, shin splints, and patellofemoral syndrome (pain in the front of the knee), may be a factor that you’ll be up against.
The best thing you can do is focus on prevention to ensure you don’t sustain an injury that will keep you out of the game all season. Here’s how!
– Get a proper warm-up
To get at the top of your game, you’ve got to prime your body for the action. Skipping a warm-up session will put you at greater risk. Instead, take a few minutes to stretch before going full steam ahead.
– Do cross training
A stronger body means it can respond to pressure better. When you cross-train, you expose your body to different movements and engage different muscles. This challenges you and improves your athletic capabilities. If you normally play hockey, try swimming or a different activity on another day to get all your muscles into the action.
– Don’t push it after an injury
It’s disappointing when you’re hurt, but take the time to get out of the game and rest. Without proper healing time, you can make your injury worse and ruin your chances of ever playing again.
– Make sure you eat right
The stronger and healthier your body is, the more likely it will be to resist injury. Eating a proper diet and taking care of hydration is important. Most athletes forget about water when the weather cools, however it is just as crucial as those hotter summer months.
– Take days off
Your body needs rest even when it’s not injured. Taking the time to let your muscles recuperate after major exertion will help them heal and lessen any impact for injury.
– Get the care you need pre- and post-game
When it comes to muscle strains and sprains or even managing past injuries, you need to be vigilant with your care. Physiotherapy works wonders to help you improve your range of motion after an injury while massage can be used both before and after your competitions to prevent injury and help muscles heal faster.
If you want to be at the top of your game, let In Your Home Therapy help you get there for your fall sports. Our physiotherapy and massage therapy experts can keep your muscles healthy and give you more ways to win at your game.
