Sports Injury Prevention
Few things in the Triangle are as popular as sports, so we regularly see injuries to bones and muscle. Our orthopaedists also see head injuries which can give rise to concussions.
At WakeMed, all of our orthopaedic physicians have sub-specialties in sports medicine and can answer any questions during an appointment to provide you with comprehensive and compassionate care.
Steps to Pevent or Lessen the Impact of Injury
- Schedule a pre-season physical with your doctor to assess any potential risk you might face on the field.
- Drink water while you play or work out. Try and drink fluids every 15 to 20 minutes during athletic activity to maintain your body’s performance.
- Stay fit. Most sports injuries are a result of inadequate training. Injury rates are always higher among those who do not engage in physical activity on a regular basis.
- Warm up. It is important to warm up your body before any sports activity. It is also important to stretch, improving the body’s ability to contract and loosen, reducing the risk of injury.
- Stay aware of the weather. Make sure you know what the weather will be that day. During hot Carolina summers, bring plenty of water to avoid heat exhaustion. Say hydrated in cold weather, too. You should also add layering and a warm-up before you play or go running to avoid injury.
WakeMed orthopaedic specialists also have close working relationships with the Carolina Railhawks soccer team and the North Carolina Football Club (NCFC). In fact, WakeMed and the North Carolina Football Club (NCFC) have partnered to provide young athletes and their families with information on nutrition and injury prevention, including proper stretching before activities.
Our orthopaedic providers have also posted numerous blogs on injury prevention, including: