Participating in sports is a great way to remain active and stay healthy. However, any kind of physical activity puts you at risk of an injury. Common sports injuries include sprained ankles, broken collarbones, and torn ligaments. Rest assured that there are ways you can decrease your chances of experiencing an injury. These precautions largely involve sufficient preparation for the activity you’re about to undertake. Let’s take a closer look at four tips that will help you stay safe.

Prevent an Ankle Sprain by Wearing Proper Shoes

There are many different ways that you can reduce the risk of spraining your ankle. For example, you need to wear the right shoes for the sport that you’re engaging in. It can be tempting to wear a type of shoe that looks trendy, but this could prevent you from being comfortable and safe. Running shoes work great for running, but they aren’t the same thing as hiking boots, soccer cleats, and so forth. If you’re playing multiple sports, make sure that you’re buying the proper shoes for each activity.

Prevent Heat Stroke by Staying Hydrated

Untreated heat exhaustion can turn into heatstroke, leading to dangerous consequences. If you’re going to be outside in the heat, take extra precautions to stay cool and hydrated. You’ll want to supplement your fluids with electrolyte intake. This will ensure your body is retaining its water properly and not experiencing dehydration. You can also use a cooling towel or handheld fan to keep yourself from sweating too much.

Prevent a Knee Injury by Warming Up

You must stretch before you partake in any kind of exercise or activity. No matter what type of activity you will be doing, warm up every part of your body gently before getting started. You should also make some time to stretch when you are done with your activity. This can help the healing and cool-down processes. Knee injuries commonly occur when an athlete hasn’t stretched or warmed up. This is an area of the body that takes a lot of impact regardless of the sport that you’re participating in.

Prevent Shin Splints by Exercising on Soft Surfaces

When you exercise or play a sport on a hard surface, this can greatly increase the amount of force that is being placed on your bones and muscles. Shin splints are a painful condition that can arise from this type of situation. When you have shin splints, you can be laid up for days. It’s painful to even walk a short distance. If you can stick to grass, dirt or synthetic tracks, you’ll be in great shape.

 

Being an active athlete of any kind is a lot of fun, but it can be dangerous to your body if you’re not careful. Take the extra time that is needed to prepare your body for what is to come. Make sure that you equip yourself properly as well. This includes the proper sporting equipment, but it also applies to things that will help you stay cool in the heat.

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