While Super Bowl is an activity enjoyed once a year by millions of viewers nationwide, the reality of injuries that occur as a result of playing football and engaging in other types of sports is a daily occurrence for many warns New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer.
A sports injury can happen in a split second even for a professional athlete, so how a person prepares for a sport is critical, even if it’s something as simple as jogging.
The most common injuries that typically occur on the football field according to your New Orleans orthopedic surgeon are concussions, shoulder sprains/dislocations, knee sprains and ligament tears and ankle injuries. While a New Orleans orthopedic surgeon doesn’t typically treat a concussion, it is something they should be made aware of because it can lead to other head, neck and spinal problems.
New Orleans orthopedic surgeon Dr. Richard Meyer offers these 5 tips to help avoid sports injuries:
1. Exercise on a regular basis. Don’t try to run a 5k or a marathon without preparing for it first. Start with simple strength conditioning and aerobic exercise routines and setting small workout goals. Increase your activity weekly until you’ve developed core strength.
2. Make sure you’re using appropriate equipment. A muscle can be pulled or torn simply by wearing incorrect shoes. For example, wearing running shoes to an aerobics class can result in a torn calf muscle. If you’re playing a more extreme sport your Des Moines orthopedic surgeon suggests wearing the correct protective equipment.
3. Practice good diet and nutrition both before and after exercising. Before beginning any sport or exercise, make sure you’ve eaten an adequate meal that includes carbohydrates, protein and healthy sugars. Feeding your body is vital in preventing injuries and sustaining stamina.
4. Stay hydrated. Drinking an adequate amount of water and electrolytes is very important. Dehydration can lead to fatigue and disorientation, which can also result in injury. Dehydration can be caused by excessive sweating brought on by wearing the wrong type of clothing for the activity.
5. Rest and recuperate. Resting between workouts is also very important, as is getting a good night’s sleep before a major activity such as a marathon. This is the time when the body can heal itself so make sure you get plenty of rest.
Your Des Moines orthopedic surgeon also highly recommends daily stretching to keep the body flexible at all times.