Your athlete trained hard all summer to prepare for their fall sport, but now the challenge is only half over. With the season in full swing, they need to maintain a high level of performance while also staying healthy throughout the season. After all, the best ability is availability, and an athlete sidelined by injury can’t help their team.
While not all injuries are preventable, there are proven ways to reduce an athlete’s risk. Injuries often occur for multiple reasons. An athlete may simply have an unlucky moment, but underlying factors can sometimes turn that moment into a season-altering injury.
Here are three ways athletes can start reducing their risk of injury:
1. Get stronger, particularly by addressing strength imbalances.
When you picture traditional strength training, you might think of barbell exercises. While squats, deadlifts, and bench presses can certainly build strength, it’s also important to incorporate exercises that address single-leg and single-arm strength. This helps ensure that one side of the body isn’t doing the majority of the work, leaving the naturally weaker side more vulnerable.
It’s also important to consider opposing muscle groups. For example, an athlete with significant quadriceps strength may have weaker hamstrings. This type of imbalance can increase the risk of injury.
2. Get enough sleep.
A lack of sleep, even just one night of poor sleep, can lead to slower reaction times and reduced movement accuracy, potentially increasing an athlete’s risk of injury. Going to bed a little earlier or fitting in a nap during the day can be a great place to start when trying to get more sleep throughout the week.
3. Don’t ignore red flags.
One of the strongest predictors of a future injury is a previous injury. If you or your athlete are constantly dealing with aches, pains, or minor injuries, it may be a warning sign that something more significant is developing.
In Massachusetts, you do not need a doctor’s referral to see a physical therapist. You can simply call and make an appointment. Early intervention can help address potential problems before they become more serious and require a longer recovery.
Staying proactive about an athlete’s health and well-being with interventions that take just a few hours each week can make a significant difference in reducing the likelihood of an injury that could take months to recover from.
This fall, encourage your athlete to focus not only on being at the top of their game, but also on staying healthy enough to remain there.
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