5 Ways to Prevent Summertime Sports Injuries

Summertime is an uncomfortable time of the year to be sidelined with an injury. Casts are hot and itchy and prevent hikes and swims. Splints or crutches make summer travel more complicated. And you miss out on what may be an important season in your sport.

Any time you’re active, you’re at risk for injury. Since so many of us in the beautiful San Jose, California, area are more active in the summer months, this can be a peak season for sports injuries. 

How can you avoid these issues and prevent sports injuries this summer? Sports medicine expert and experienced podiatrist Dr. Leonard Greenwald is here to help. In this blog, he goes over five key strategies you can use to prevent summertime sports injuries.

1. Focus on balance

Falls lead to injuries. No matter your sport, your chance of injury goes up after a fall. To prevent sports injuries, focus on developing balance skills. This makes it easier to avoid falls and subsequent injuries.

Balance-based exercises help you improve your physical control. To maintain your balance, you need strong core and leg muscles. Your body will thank you for investing time and energy in balance during your training as falls become less and less common.

2. Pay attention to pivots

You’re more vulnerable to sports injuries any time you pivot or change direction rapidly or with significant force behind your movement. Tendons can strain or even snap, joints can suffer damage, and you can fracture bones.

Knowing this, train carefully for pivots and directional shifts when you’re on the track, field, or turf. Move intentionally, using your core muscles to take pressure off joints that could otherwise become overstressed. 

3. Update your equipment

It’s easy to keep training, or even competing, with last summer’s gear. If you play a couple of sports, you may be tempted to cross-use your equipment. Do you really need both running and soccer shoes? Can’t you use one pair for both sports?

The thing is, worn-out sports equipment puts you at higher risk of sports injuries. You don’t receive the support you need from gear that’s not in good shape. It’s also important to purchase up-to-date equipment for each of your activities. Specialized gear provides better, more comprehensive support for active bodies under stress, making accidents and injuries less likely.

4. Limber up and cool down

While it’s tempting to just get out of the car and go, summertime sports injuries are less likely to be a problem if you take things slowly, easing into and out of strenuous activity. This gives your body time to adjust, making you less likely to hurt yourself when you’re functioning at full intensity.

5. Consult with a sports medicine team

Your personal health history, family health history, and physical goals all impact your risk of sports injuries. If you’ve suffered a previous sports injury, your risk of reinjury goes up, and you need to take extra precautions. Other health conditions can also make you more prone to injuries or complications related to your sport and overall health and wellness.

For personalized advice on staying optimally healthy and free from injury as an athlete, consult Dr. Greenwald. Book your appointment online or over the phone today.