Medical Questions » Sports Questions » Question No. 947
| Question: | What is the best way to prevent injury when playing vigorous sport? |
| Answer: | Preventative medicine is important for all diseases, but especially so in ' sports medicine' .
Many hold the narrow view that prevention of sporting injuries relates simply to protective equipment used in the various sports, but the subject is much broader and has many implications and ramifications.
The physical fitness of the competitor is the most neglected area relating to the prevention of sporting injuries. If you are going to play sport, you must follow the axiom ' get fit to play' and not ' play to get fit' .
Children are playing more and more organised sport. It is recommended that all parents have their children examined by a doctor before they participate in sport so possible medical problems can be checked. If problems are found, children can often be directed into equally enjoyable sports which will not affect their health.
It is interesting to note how the range of protective equipment available to sportspeople grows every year, but not all is of proven value. Some protective equipment can itself inflict injury—abdominal injuries following blows to the abdomen with rigid American football helmets for example.
Three proven items of protective equipment have not received the acceptance they warrant, however.
There is no doubt that a mouth guard properly prescribed and fitted by a dentist will provide excellent protection for the teeth and jaws of those who play any type of contact sport. The average $50 cost becomes insignificant when compared with the cost of repairing a broken tooth, replacing a lost tooth or the permanent disfigurement which may accompany both.
Sight is one of our most precious possessions, yet thousands of squash and racquetball players all over the world sustain serious eye injuries every year, some producing total blindness of one eye.
Even if you don' t require spectacles for normal daily use, wearing correct eye protection with non-shatter polycarbonate lenses available from optometrisrs and eye specialists can totally avoid the tragedy which occurs when a squash ball hits the eye socket at high velocity. The reason most players don' t wear eye protection may be that the top international players have ignored this advance in protective equipment, and so it is not as yet ' fashionable' .
Taping of ankles has been shown to be almost 100 percent effective in protecting this joint from sprain. Taping does not offer the same protection to the more mobile knee and shoulder joints.
Non-stretch zinc-oxide tape is required for successful joint taping. It is a recommended procedure for all those involved in sports where running, jumping or twisting is required. You must learn the correct taping technique and it is best to have a partner tape your ankles and vice versa.
These three simple measures and checking for any potential problems before competing, may make your sporting future far more secure.
|
|
|
