Knoxville Athletic Injury Safety Tips

By Samital Leah Zerna


Sports injuries affecting the muscles, joints, spine and neck are very common, especially considering that all sports carry an inherent risk of injury to varying degrees. It is always a good idea to follow some fundamental athletic injury safety tips for preventing or managing sports related injuries, offered by a Knoxville chiropractor.

Every sporting activity should be accompanied by proper body conditioning, with warm ups and stretches performed before playing, and a cool down afterwards. This should be included as part of your regular routine as it will greatly help in the prevention of sporting relating injuries, as well as speeding up the recovery of any existing ones.

If you do sustain a minor sprain or strain, it is recommended that you apply "rest, ice, compression, elevation" to the injury. Use an ice pack to the injured area and hold it there until swelling is reduced. However, do not apply the ice pack for more than 20 minutes continuously, or further swelling and injury will result. If the swelling persists, seek help from your general practitioner.

Sports that are very competitive in nature present higher risks than less competitive sports, particularly for your children. Help them prevent injuries by ensuring that the sport is suited to your child's age and size. When playing any sport, make sure they are wearing the correct safety equipment, and always ensure your child has rested well beforehand. Warm up, stretching and cool down exercises should always be performed.

As well as following the correct conditioning and sporting techniques, remember that proper nutrition is an essential part of staying healthy and preventing sports injuries. Stay away from high fat foods, foods loaded with sugar, and any fast food, and always stay hydrated by drinking the equivalent of a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.

Neck and lower back sports related injuries are the most common; neck and head trauma is mostly caused by contact sports, while repetitive actions are the main cause of most lower back injuries. As a preventative measure, always adhere to the proper rules and techniques for each sport.




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