10 Ways To Avoid Sports Injuries This Fall

Fall is just around the corner which means that fall sports are going to be in full swing soon! The players are not the only ones who are excited to get back to playing, but the parents are also anticipating the games!

With fall sports starting soon, unfortunately, injuries are bound to happen as the season goes on. At Lake Country Physical Therapy, we want to give you the knowledge you need in order to avoid getting injured this fall season. Here are 10 fall sports safety tips:

  1. Always visit the doctor for a pre-season physical examination.
  2. Make sure you are doing your warm-ups and cool-downs properly with low-impact exercises like walking or cycling.
  3. Stretching is key after strength training to avoid injury. A good stretch involves not going beyond the point of resistance and should be held for 10-12 seconds.
  4. Staying Hydrated helps with avoiding muscle cramps and maintaining good health. Waiting until you are thirsty is often too late to hydrate properly.
  5. Before you play you should always make sure the ground on the playing surface is in good condition to risk the chance of getting hurt during a game.
  6. If you feel a pain or injuring coming on immediately stop and remove yourself from the game. If the injury feels strong give us a call or come down to Lake Country for an examination.
  7. Remember to keep your body moving during off- season also. Play multiple positions and/or sports during this time to reduce the chance of injury during the season.
  8. Pay attention to weather conditions such as wet, slippery fields that can lead to injuries.
  9. If pain or discomfort develops listen to your body and decrease training time and intensity. Avoid the pressure to overtrain.
  10. You should only be participating in sports if you are wearing the proper protective gear such as fitted cleats, pads, helmets, mouth guard or other necessary equipment depending on the sport.