Fall sports season is gearing up. Whether you’re a professional athlete
or your high school’s starting quarterback, one injury can ruin
your entire season. Luckily, there are a variety of ways athletes can
prepare themselves all year long, and it begins with proper preparation.
Here are some of the most common sports injuries, and how you can do your
best to prevent one from occurring:
Ankle Sprain
A sprained ankle often occurs when the foot turns inward and is usually
due to weakness in the ligaments. Want to know the best way to prevent a
sprain? Strength training. Routine exercises can allow for better flexibility
and strength. Another step you can take is to see a sports medicine doctor.
Not only can they help you heal and cope with an injury, but they also
can teach you proper form and provide exercises to do for better mobility.
Hamstring Strain
Three muscles located in the back of your thigh form your hamstrings.
Sharp movement of the leg while moving or overstretching can often cause
injury. Because of the location, healing can take a while, and reinjury
is common due to the location of the damage. Your best form of prevention
is through proper warmups before any activities.
Knee Injury: ACL Tear
Your anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is what holds your leg bone to your
knee. A strain occurs from sudden stops or a hit from the side. If a tear
occurs, it’s often accompanied by a “pop” sound. The
best prevention to a complete tear is by seeing an orthopedic doctor as
soon as you suspect an ACL injury. Once a tear occurs, surgery will be
necessary to live an active life.
If a minor injury does occur, remember RICE:
- Rest and stop an activity
- Ice the area
- Compress the injury with a bandage to reduce swelling
- Elevate whenever possible
Seek medical attention if you have excessive swelling, can’t bear
weight or use your limb, or have visible deformities of the joint or bone.
If an injury is harming your quality of life,
Power River Orthopedics & Spine (PROS) is here to help in Gillette, Wyoming. We can evaluate your options
so you can rest assured that you get the best possible outcome and are
back to a happy and active life in no time.
Call the PROS at 307.686.1413 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/PROS to learn more.
PROS is a Campbell County Medical Group Clinic with
Campbell County Health.