Sports injuries affect individuals of all ages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that sports injuries are responsible for 3.2 million emergency room visits for children ages 5 to 14, and are the leading cause of injury for 12 to 17 year olds. No matter your age or the age of your children, prevention methods can be employed to prevent sports injuries.
Proper Equipment
Most sports have safety equipment that can help prevent injury, like padding and guards. Playing without the right equipment can leave you at larger risk for suffering a sports-related injury. The University of Michigan Health System recommends that you always wear the proper equipment and gear any time you play a sport. It's also helpful to make sure that the equipment is properly sized; equipment that is too small or too large may not protect you from the full range of sports-related injuries and could even cause them.
Warming Up
Warming up and cooling down help to properly stretch and prepare your body for the rigors of playing a sport. Especially true if you haven't played a sport in a while, conditioning your muscles by stretching can make sure you don't pull or twist your muscles during game play, says KidsHealth.org, a division of the Nemours Foundation. Once you've finished, protect against soreness by cooling down with a stretching regime.
Drinking Water
Staying hydrated is extremely important when playing high intensity sports that cause you to sweat. As you sweat, you lose water from your body, leaving you susceptible to dehydration and heat illnesses, warns the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. The AOSSM suggests drinking 4 to 8 oz. of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes of playing time. Making sure that you drink enough water while playing can help you avoid dehydration, while taking frequent breaks and staying out of the direct sunlight can prevent heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
Eye Protection
In suiting up with the rest of the gear, you might forget the importance of eye protection while playing a sport. Prevent Blindness America recommends wearing the proper gear for the type of sports you are playing; goggles for racquetball games and basketball, helmets with face shields for baseball and U.S. Amateur Hockey Association approved helmets for hockey. Remember that eye glasses do not offer the same protection as sports-grade eye protection.
Coaching And Rules
The CDC warns that you should always play the game with a competent coach who knows the rules well. If the coach suggests a play that could cause you to become injured or injure someone else, you can decline to keep yourself safe. A good coach will help you warm up, ensure you're wearing the proper gear, and substitute you when you've been playing to long to make sure you play an exciting and safe game.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Sports- and Recreation-Related Injuries
- KidsHealth: Five Ways to Avoid Sports Injuries
- American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine: Heat Illness
- University of Michigan Health System: Youth Sports Safety Resources
- Prevent Blindness America: Sports Eye Safety
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