It’s finally that time of year again! The cool crisp air on your skin, the cracking of the leaves under your feet, the smell of pumpkin spice everywhere you go… Fall is one of the most relaxing seasons of all, right? Wrong. With Fall breaking ground, many student athletes are well underway into their respective seasons, and trailing not far behind is the increasing tally of injuries among the team. This is so common because of the rapid change in intensity swaying from a mellow summer to back to back practices in dynamic weather conditions. For athletes, injuries can be detrimental to their mental health, often causing them to miss their entire season. However parents often face the brunt of the stress because let’s face it, you’re worried about your little superstar! Thus begs the question; How do I prevent sports injuries?
We’ve got answers.
While sometimes injuries can occur spontaneously with no warning, they are most generally the cause of lack of preparation. With this in mind we always recommend:
- A Thorough Warmup: At risk of sounding like a broken record, warming up is one of the most important things you can do before an intense game and even your typical practice. Jumping into intense exercise without breaking a sweat will ultimately lead you to pulling, straining, or tearing one of your muscles.
- Be Your Own Advocate: Parents, we know it’s impossible to pry information out of your children, but this is important! If something is bothering you, it is imperative to speak up. Athletes will regularly experience pain in an overworked muscle and will continue to play through it. We commend your persistence but unfortunately that is just a fast track to finding yourself on the sidelines for the rest of your season. Though you may not be fully injured, letting someone know that you are in pain and taking the proper precautions necessary will only save your career in the long run.
- Rest Up: You may not be in pain, however constant intense movement will cause wear and tear on your muscles and they need to be healed before they’re ready for use again. Getting a suggested 8 hours or more of sleep a night will ensure that your body is properly rested and ready to roll for your next big game.
Now you know what you need to do to avoid getting injured all together, but as aforementioned there is always a possibility of the inevitable incident that you do get hurt. So now you have another burning question that needs answering; How Do I Quickly Recover From A Sports Injury?
We will warn you not to rush back into your sport, though you must be so eager to join your team again, so for that we have some more suggestions:
- Don’t Compare Yourself To The Pros: We all have that one star player that we look up to. They almost seem to be superhuman given how quickly they return from injury. However they are not, typically professional athletes will return to play while not fully healed due to contract restraints. Remember that you are only on the field to have fun and improve at your sport, no pressure at all! Always make sure the injury is completely mended before you attempt to compete again.
- Symptoms May Not Be The Source: The source of pain is often caused by a weakness, tightness or instability somewhere else in the body. Just treating the symptoms may keep your student athlete on the field, but they will not be performing their best and likely further the injury and limit their ability to play as the season progresses. A thorough examination by a physical therapist can find the source to stop the injury from recurring.
- Get The Right Help: The school physical trainer is likely overloaded with the amount of students they have coming to them with injuries daily. Without specialized one-on-one treatment, your ailment may not receive the proper attention it is required. Seeing a physical therapist is the best way to eliminate any miscare and ensure that you return to your sport as quickly as possible.
The next best step is to take what you’ve learned about injury prevention and apply it to your daily life. We at Better With Physical Therapy have treated a plethora of student athletes and led them to a speedy, well-rounded recovery. If you are struggling with a nagging sports injury and are determined to get back to your team don’t hesitate to give us a call at: (973) 270-7417. We can offer you a full parents guide to managing sports injuries and even structure an entire training plan tailored to YOU. We’re here to help you get better.
