While engaging in sports can be a great way to stay fit, there are some risks that come with increased physical activity. A person that regularly engages in athletics is going to be exposed to a higher degree of risk for certain types of injuries. If you participate in sports on a regular basis, it is important to understand how to avoid injuries like tendinitis, sprains and over-training. Learning about these injuries and taking a few steps to reduce the risk can help to save the individual a lot of pain and it can help to keep you in the game.

Tendinitis

A common injury that will impact many sportsmen is that of tendinitis. The tendons are the fibrous bands of tissue that connect the muscle to the bone. These bands not only connect the muscles to the bone, but the also transmit the force and the activity of the muscle. Tendons are supposed to be able to handle a significant degree of bending and stretching, but they can become inflamed due to injury, overuse or disease. When the tendons or the area around them becomes inflamed, this is known as tendinitis. This condition can cause the individual to experience a significant amount of pain and possibly a reduction in the range of motion.

For individuals that regularly engage in sports, prevention of tendinitis is an important consideration. One of the key steps in tendinitis prevention is to warm up before physical activities. Prior to the beginning of any game or event, the individual should take some time to perform some light exercise and stretching. Start off slowly and gradually build to the level that your body will be at during the activity.

Training the body properly for the sport that you intend to participate in can also help to prevent tendinitis. Before going full-steam into an activity, focus on building strength and flexibility in the areas of the body that will be used the most. Regular participation in the sport will also help to keep the body in a condition that can handle the rigors of competition.

Sprains

Sprains are another type of injury that are common amongst athletes. This is a type of injury that impacts the ligaments. The ligaments are the tough bands of connective tissue that connect the bones together at the joints. When the ligaments become overstretched or torn, the individual suffers a sprain. While these injuries are fairly common, they can make for serious pain issues and in some cases, they can cause problems in the long term.

A sprain is usually caused when a sudden and unnatural amount of force is exerted on a joint. This force causes the ligaments in the area to either overstretch or break. The pain caused by this type of injury can range from moderate to severe and it can take the individual out of action for a significant amount of time.

Avoiding the possibility of a sprain is important for any sporting individual. One of the best ways to avoid a sprain is to stretch the joints before engaging in physical activity. Loosening up the joints before the activity will help to ensure that they are ready to handle the types of exertion that will be applied to the ligaments. Conditioning the joints and ligaments for the type sport is also important. Regularly stretching the joints and strengthening the muscles in the area can help to prevent injury.

The equipment used and attire worn during activity can also help to prevent sprains. Using equipment that is designed specifically for the sport will help to ensure that it is safe and therefore less likely to be the cause of an injury. Wearing the proper footwear for the given sport will also help to prevent an ankle sprain. Footwear that is well-designed for the activity will be equipped with features that are intended to protect and support the ankles and feet.

Using products like sports wraps and athletic tape can help to prevent a sprain as well. These items can help to provide support and stability in areas that are injury prone. These measures can be especially important if you have suffered a sprain in the past.

Over-training

While training the body to engage in physical activity can be a good way to prevent injury, there are some dangers that are inherent to over-training. The danger of over-training usually occurs when an individual simply pushes their body too hard. In the desire to achieve better results and progress in their physical condition, the individual may lose sight of their physical limitations and cross the line into over-training.

Over-training can actually cause a variety of problems. It can damage different parts of the body and it can also result in a decline of the physical condition. In the most basic sense, the best way to avoid this problem is to understand your own physical limitations and to keep them in mind when you are training.

Part of avoiding over-training is to allow yourself a proper amount of rest before you resume your workout and between workout sessions. When you feel like you are reaching your physical limit with a certain element of the training routine, it is important to rest and allow your body to recover. Many individuals feel like pushing through the pain and strain is part of getting in shape. However, pushing it too far can do more harm than good.

One of the keys to the prevention of over-training is to set a reasonable training schedule. Try to build a training regimen that is effective while taking into consideration your own physical state. It could also help to discuss your training habits with an individual that engages in a similar form of physical activity. Explain the training program that you are using and ask a knowledgeable individual if your level of training sounds reasonable.

Preventing sports injuries should be a primary concern for any athlete. It doesn’t matter what type of physical shape you are in, the possibility for an injury is always present. If you have a past history of injuries, the need to take preventative steps is of an even higher level of importance. Along with taking some of the steps that are listed above to prevent these specific injuries, there are other measures that can be taken to improve the safety of the activity. Regular exercise and stretching is one of the main keys to preventing sports injuries, but some individual may also find it beneficial to employ some techniques from sports therapy or massage to help mitigate the chances of becoming injured.