subject: Preventing Sports-Related Injuries [print this page] Winning is the number one motivation of anyone who is involved in sports. But what will you do if your career is stopped short due to an injury? Injuries do not just bring you physical pain but emotional pain as well. Losing a game because of an injury is totally heartbreaking and dream-shattering. That's why you have to know what to do to avoid getting injured while playing.
Before you engage yourself in any kind of sports, proper conditioning is a must. I am not just talking about physical conditioning but mental and emotional as well. Get yourself trained properly so that you will be in perfect shape once you start playing. Lack of training will not only leave you feeling tired and exhausted; you'll also be a good target for injury.
One of the things that some athletes take for granted is their pre-game warm-up exercise. That is the reason why they get injured easily. Stretching before games is very important because it helps blood flow through your muscles easily and therefore conditions them for the game. Make sure you cool down as well right after every game to relax your muscles.
Protective gears are a necessity if you are into extreme sports. Elbow pads and knee pads serve as protection against bumps and bruises while helmets protect your head from possible concoction injuries. Don't forget to use a mouthpiece as well to prevent your teeth from getting knocked out.
If you are in the process of recovering from a previous injury, make sure you avoid making your condition worse by going out there and play. Feeling little pain doesn't mean that you are completely healed. The fact that there is still a little bit of pain proves that you are still on the mend. Wait until you are fully recovered before putting on your uniform again.
Don't forget to take your break. Your rest days are designed for you to take the rest that your body needs after training so hard. It's good to push yourself to the limit but that doesn't apply to your muscle and joints. Too much training and no rest will make you more brittle and susceptible to major injuries.
