Safety First
Whatever you do, if you are involved in a
sport or activity that has potential
for injury, specifically head injury, use the proper
equipment no matter what
anyone else tells you. For example, if you are involved with
skateboarding
and this is how you stay in shape, good for you! However,
you need to
wear protective gear such as a helmet, gloves, knee guards,
etc. Most
people think that something significant has to happen in
order to get a head
in jury. Unfortunately, that is a huge misconception. The
truth is that falling
one foot onto the pavement and hitting your head is enough
to cause
serious injury or death. This is the time to put your pride
aside and think of
safety first.
Heat Therapy
Using heat therapy is a great way to reduce
long-term effects or injury for
overworked muscles. If you have sore muscles and joints, use
heat to help
increase blood flow, relieve muscle spasms, and increase
joint mobility.
Before it’s a Problem
Instead of taking an injury through
rehabilitation after it is an injury, why not
rehab before. You can actually take preventative measures
before you
indulge in a sport or activity by ensuring you stretch
properly. This will help
strengthen as well as stretch muscles, which in turn, helps
reduce
unnecessary injuries.
Running in the Sand
If you live in a geographical area, where
you have the luxury of sandy
beaches, and if you are in the process of rehabilitating
your knees, ankles,
and even some injuries to the back, you should avoid running
in the sand
during this time. The reason is that running on sand
actually produces
greater force on the joints.
Medication and Exercise
If you are on scheduled prescription
medication, you should know that
some drugs could have a negative affect if mixed with
exercise. Some can
cause the heart to work too hard or you might not sweat as
needed, to
mention a few. If you are taking medication, before you
start any exercise
program, consult with your physician to ensure there are no
harmful effects.
Golf Injuries
While golf is not a high impact sport,
injuries can still occur. One such
injury associated with golf is torn rotator cuffs. To avoid
this from
happening to you, it is important to keep your muscles
strengthened and
flexible. Simple stretching can help tremendously. When you
stretch, take
it slow, only going to a point of mild tension. Each stretch
should be held
for 20 to 40 seconds with smooth motion (no bouncing). Just
as it is
important to stretch before you golf, it is equally as
important to stretch after
golf.
Heat Exhaustion and Heat Stroke
Heat-related illnesses can be a common
occurrence when exerting energy
in the outdoors or poorly ventilated indoors. Two primary
contributors can
be alcohol consumption and not enough water. Three types of
illness
include heat cramps, which are very painful and might be
combined with
headache or nausea, heat exhaustion, which is more serious
and includes
vomiting, chills, headache, dizziness, among other symptoms,
and
heatstroke, which if the most dangerous and if not caught
and treated
immediately, can be fatal or lead to permanent brain damage
or coma. For
all three of these, particularly the last two, the best
action is prevention. If
you notice that your heart starts beating too fast and you
feel light-headed,
get out of the sun. Wear loose fitting clothing, preferably
made from
lightweight cotton as well as light colors. Drink LOTS of
water. Even if you
do not feel thirsty, drink anyway. Do not go with the old
rule of taking salt
tablets. You should always stay clear of these unless you
have first
consulted with your physician. Stay away from alcohol, soft
drinks, caffeine,
or heavily sugared drinks to include fruit juice. Take
frequent breaks and if
necessary, stop for the day. If you do believe you are in
trouble, seek
medical attention immediately. It is far better safe than
sorry!
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