Staying active in the summer is a great way to boost your health and well-being – and to lose some of those holiday pounds you may have gained during the previous December. Given the green grass and warmer weather, many of us love to play sports with our friends and family during the summer.
However, it has likely been many months since you played basketball in the driveway or touch football in the yard – and so those tight and stiff muscles are especially prone to injury. Let’s talk about some of the most important and easiest ways to prevent those injuries this summer, how to keep yourself safe while staying active, and where you can go in Fairless Hills if you or a loved one gets hurt anytime this summer or throughout the year:
Wear Proper Sports Gear
With the temperatures rising during the summer, people are often hesitant to don some of their protective gear. However, many people who are playing sports or participating in other recreational summer activities can indeed prevent sustaining sports injuries if they wear the proper equipment and protective gear.
Helmets, supportive shoes, gloves, and pads (knee pads, elbow pads, etc.) were all invented for the purpose of stopping the wearer from suffering severe bodily harm while playing sports. Remember, even professional athletes wear safety equipment to help prevent injuries.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is crucial when playing sports, especially during the hot summer months when you lose a lot of liquid through sweating more than usual. When you don’t drink enough water, you may become dehydrated while playing your favorite summer games. Through proper hydration, you can reduce your risk of dizziness, muscle cramps, and fatigue.
Warm Up Even When It’s Hot Outside
A good warm-up prepares your muscles for the strenuous physical activities that you will do.
Warming up can not only prevent many sports injuries from happening, but they can also have the added benefit of improving your overall performance. So, make sure you warm up to increase your heart rate and to raise the internal temperature of your muscles.
Pace Yourself
Always listen to your body. Your body will tell you – by feeling painful or uncomfortable in awkward ways – that you’re pushing too hard. Have fun, and take a break whenever you need to.
Pushing yourself too far in a short amount of time is dangerous, especially in the hot summer sun. Doing so could cause dizziness, muscle cramps, fainting, sunstroke/heatstroke, heat exhaustion, or even heart issues.
Stay Well-Rested
Although you are excited about your upcoming activities, you should still be sure to get ample rest every night. Not having enough rest will hinder you from doing your best, because you will tire easily and could start to get sloppy in your performance – which invites injury. Be sure to sleep enough every night and to take proper breaks during your activities.
Treatment for Sports Injuries in Fairless Hills, PA
For quick diagnosis and treatment of sports injuries here in Fairless Hills, visit the medical professionals at Patient Care Now Urgent Care. We are open 365 days a year, because we know that injuries and illnesses don’t take days off. Our highly experienced team of physicians is equipped to provide all the necessary services you need.
To let us know you’re coming, or if you have any questions, call us at (267) 202-6433 or check in online. We look forward to helping you get back to summer fun in no time!
