If you’re an athlete, you probably know the basics of injury prevention. You stretch and warm up before an activity and you stretch and cool down after one. Both are critical.
Unfortunately, there will be injuries that you can’t prevent because of factors you can’t control. That’s why it is important to control what you can. From shin splints, runner’s knee and fractures, to more serious injuries like concussions and shoulder problems, you should learn more about how these injuries happen and ways you can avoid them and stay conditioned and injury-free.
If you do get injured, see a sports medicine specialist. They are familiar with injuries, specific to each sport, affecting your cartilage, meniscus and ligaments. They know when an injury can be exercised, splinted and protected to keep you in a game or season. If that’s not possible, they’ll know of the most effective treatments and rehabilitation programs to help you recover fully if not improve your performance level before you return to the game.
