How To Prevent Common Sports Injuries?

How To Prevent Common Sports Injuries?

Exercise is good for the body and mind. The physical strength and stamina and the release of stress that comes from regular exercise have a major positive impact on the quality of life. However, any form of physical activity involves a risk of injury. Professional sportspersons have been using protective equipment for a long time to reduce the risk of injury. The increased awareness of the importance of exercise and the competitive nature of sporting activities means that now even amateurs are using this equipment to protect themselves. However, using protective equipment does not guarantee safety. Knowing the causes and common types of sports injuries will help in staying safe and injury-free.

Causes of Sports Injuries

There are many possible causes of sports injuries. These include:

  • Improper or inadequate warm-up before the sporting event
  • Incorrect training procedures
  • Not wearing protective equipment or not wearing the right type of protection
  • Being in poor overall health
  • Being over competitive and pushing the body beyond its safe limits in an effort to win
  • Improper unwinding/cooling off after the exercise
  • Returning to sports after a layoff (due to illness, travel, or anything else) and not gradually working up to the previous fitness level
  • Normal sporting hazards such as falling, collision with others, equipment failure, etc.

List Of Common Sports Injuriessports injury

Sports injuries can range from a small bruise to a broken neck. That being said, the common injuries that doctors most often see include:Sprained ligaments and tendons



Also Read : How to Recover from a Sports Injury?


 

Preventing Injuries

Common sense and knowing what actions are risky is the key to avoiding sports injuries. However, the competitive nature of sporting activities can result in a tunnel vision that focuses only on winning and blocks out the need to remain within the body’s limits. The basics of preventing injuries are:

  • Always be aware of your body’s limits and the risk of exceeding them
  • Develop an all-round fitness plan that includes strength training and flexibility
  • When exercising do not ignore some muscle groups because they are not directly related to the sport you are playing. Any injury can have a knockdown effect and affect any muscle
  • Warm up before starting to play so the muscles and joints are flexible and ready to accept the strain to be placed on them
  • Cool off properly when you finish so that your muscles can relax the right way
  • Use the right protective equipment for the sport you are playing. Each sport has its own demands and risks and using equipment meant for one sport while playing another is highly risky. For example, a cycling helmet is not meant to provide the same type of protection as a batsman’s helmet in cricket
  • Learn the right techniques for your sport from coaches and manuals so that you play the right and safe way
  • Drink plenty of water so you avoid the many risks of dehydration
  • Rest when you are tired
  • Do not ignore any pain that occurs while playing. Being a hero for 10 minutes and playing through the pain will be of little consolation if it leads to serious sports injury and the use of major treatment protocols

If you do suffer from a major sports injury, do not try to treat it yourself. These injuries are often more serious than is apparent. Consult a doctor for treatment and if you are referred to an orthopedic surgeon or a Sports Injuries Specialist, do not delay getting the treatment you need. Whether it is bone fracture treatment, ligament reconstruction, or any other condition, the longer you delay treatment, the longer your stay on the team’s injured players list.