High school sports are a huge part of many students’ lives. They provide a sense of community, a chance to compete, and an opportunity to stay active. However, they can also be a significant source of injuries. Injuries that unfortunately, often last much longer than an athlete’s high school career.
While there will always be some risk involved when participating in a competitive sport, there are ways that may help decrease the likelihood of getting hurt, such as preventative exercises, stretches, and proper education. In an effort to promote these preventative measures and spread awareness, we’ve put together a list of ways high school athletes can help protect themselves:
1. Strengthening the muscles around your joints is one of the best ways to help prevent sports injuries. This can be done through weightlifting, resistance training, and plyometric exercises.
2. Wearing the proper gear for your sport is essential in preventing injuries. This includes using mouthguards, shin guards, headgear, pads, appropriate footwear, etc.
3. Be sure to warm up and cool down properly before and after practices or games. This helps to prevent muscular strains and tears.
4. Always listen to your body and don’t push yourself too hard. If you’re in pain, take a break. Ignoring pain can lead to more serious injuries down the road.
5. Cross-train and participate in a variety of activities to help reduce the risk of overuse injuries.
6. Make sure you’re getting enough rest and recovery time. This is when your body is rebuilding and repairing damaged tissue.
7. Listen to your coaches, athletic trainers, and doctors. They are there to help you perform at your best and stay healthy.
Following these guidelines can help high school athletes perform to their best abilities, finishing out their season and preventing sports-related injuries. However, it’s important to keep in mind that even with taking these precautions, accidents can still happen. If you do end up getting injured, Syracuse Area Health – Strasburger Orthopaedics is here to assist you on the road to recovery, getting you back to full functionality as fast as possible.
Contact us to learn more about injury prevention, or to make an appointment with Dr. Scott Strasburger if you suspect you or a loved one has a sports-related injury.
