Returning to school after a long break is also a time for many young athletes to get back into sports training. Many might find those lazy days spent on vacation or lounging by the pool may have had an effect on their stamina. It’s important to make sure athletes ease into training properly to avoid injuries.
A recent study in the Journal of Athletic Training looked at 573 male and female athletes in 16 team sports over a three-year period. Overall they found 1,317 injuries. 29% (386 cases) from overuse, 27% from general stress, 21% from inflammation, and 16% from tendonitis. Field hockey, soccer, softball and volleyball collected the highest rate of overuse injuries.
Orthopedic specialists and sports medicine trainers recommend:
- Don’t overdo it. If you are playing a year-round sport, find a time during the year to take a break for a couple weeks or more. Muscles, tendons, ligaments all need to time to rest and recover.
- Pay attention to your body’s warning signs. If you begin to feel a part of your body ache, check it out and provide it with the necessary treatment. Noticing something early can avoid serious damage.
- Proper mechanics equal fewer injuries. Most doctors and trainers say that most overuse or repetitive motion injuries can be avoided with the correct mechanics. Ask a Piedmont HealthCare expert whether your motion looks healthy.
Another preemptive measure before getting back into a vigorous training program is to schedule a sports physical. The exam helps determine whether it’s safe for you to participate in a particular sport. Most states actually require that kids and teens have a sports physical before they can start a new sport or begin a new competitive season. But even if a sports physical isn’t required, doctors still highly recommend getting one. Both Piedmont HealthCare Express Care in Mooresville and Piedmont HealthCare Urgent Care in Statesville offer quick and easy sports physicals with no appointment required.
