Strains and sprains are the most common sports injuries.
As an orthopaedic surgeon, I am no stranger to strains and sprains. Having played Lacrosse for so many years also makes me acutely aware of just how common these types of injuries are, but also how important it is to try and prevent them.
Sprains occur when the ligaments, (the tough bands that connect bones and joints ) are pushed past their limit and torn. Strains occur when either the tendons, or muscles themselves are torn due to being overstretched or overused.
If you are into sports, and especially if you are an athlete, I can’t stress enough the importance of trying to avoid both sprains and strains. So how do you do it?
Warm up. Before any athletic exercise, you should do a gentle warm up to get blood flowing, and increase flexibility.
Work out regularly to keep your muscles in working shape. This way when you do attempt athletic endeavors your body will be more used to the movement.
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Listen to your body and stop the physical activity once your body is fatigued.
Wear the right shoes. If your shoes don’t fit, or are worn out, you are more likely to suffer sports injuries.
Eat a well-balanced diet to keep your muscles strong.
Wear protective equipment if necessary.
Being careless with your body is never good, especially if you are an athlete. Strains and sprains can lead to even worse athletic injuries, so its always important to pay attention to what you’re doing, and avoid any mistakes that could take you out of the game.
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