A healthy body is the key to success in sports and it is important to be aware of how to prevent injuries and keep a healthy lifestyle that supports the physical demands of sports.
Check out the following elements that can help you maintain a healthy body for sports.
Warming Up
Although it is not all injuries that can be prevented, athletes can go about avoiding them in a number of ways. Warming up before and after the game has been shown to reduce the likelihood of an injury.
It is recommended that one should focus on a dynamic stretch before practicing or playing your sport. A dynamic stretch is different from the traditional static stretch, where you hold a specific post for 30 seconds and then release the pose.
A dynamic stretch focuses on stretching in a way our bodies would move naturally in our sport. For instance, if you are a footballer, you may want to stretch by doing side squats, hamstring stretches and runners pose. Moving while stretching helps your body prepare for what is to come while also strengthening the muscles.
Know When to Rest
You should have at least one rest day a week as an athlete. It can be hard for athletes to think of rest as productive but giving your body that opportunity lets your muscles recover and actually grow, rather than wearing down that muscle tissue over and over.
Avoid Playing Multiple Sports
Athletes are discouraged from playing multiple sports within the year as many growth-related injuries come about due to limited time to recover after taking part in different sports.
It is advised to find one sport you perform the best and sticking with it.
Trusted Physical Therapist
It is important to have a trusted physical therapist to look after your injuries. Having someone to help with bodywork, let you know more about your body and how to act when you start feeling pain is key to becoming a successful athlete over time.
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle
Fueling your body with the right diet, supplements, and recovery regime will increase your game both on and off the court! Every athlete is different based on their body, sport and position played. A lineman in football will have different needs than a quarterback.
Balanced Diet
Eating healthy will help fuel your body by giving you the energy you need to excel in your sport. We encourage athletes to find a nutrition specialist to develop an eating plan that works for them.
Some foods to include in your diet as an Athlete are foods high in protein (for muscle maintenance and growth), greens for overall health and mental clarity, Complex Carbs such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, and oatmeal, and healthy fats like avocados and peanut butter for brain health.
Culled from Elite Orthopaedic