Summer Is Peak Time For Outdoor Sports Injuries
June 6, 2023
Summertime is the ideal time for outdoor activities like boating, swimming, barbecues and picnicking. It’s also ripe for sports injuries, says Nancy White, M.D., a Henry Ford Health sports medicine physician.
“We encourage people of all ages to get outside and take advantage of all the activities available during the summer. It’s very important, though, that people keep safety top of mind to reduce their risk of injury,” Dr. White says.
Dr. White counts these as the five most common injuries:
- Sprains and strains
- Fractures
- Trampoline injuries
- Bike injuries
- Overuse injuries
“Trampoline injuries are mostly caused by jumping, either by an awkward landing or colliding with someone,” Dr. White says. “Overuse injuries happen when someone overextends themselves in a particular activity, whether it’s attending multiple sports camps or simply exercising outdoors.”
Dr. White recommends these three tips for reducing your risk of injury:
- Stay hydrated. Replenish your fluid intake with frequent water breaks.
- Perform warm-up exercises before your run or your game.
- Wear protective gear. Whether bike riding, rollerblading or skateboarding, a helmet and protective pads are a must. Obey traffic laws and store your phone away.
For soft-tissue injuries strains and sprains, Dr. White says the R.I.C.E. method is an immediate at-home treatment you can apply to reduce swelling and pain. It stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen (like Advil) or acetaminophen (like Tylenol), can help too.
If the pain worsens to the point that it interferes with your usual activities or sleep, make an appointment with your doctor or a sports medicine doctor.
Seek medical attention immediately if your pain was caused by a particularly forceful impact, you suspect a broken bone, or if the injury is accompanied by:
- Significant swelling
- Redness
- Tenderness and warmth around the joint
- Significant pain
- Fever
For injuries that don’t improve and require medical attention, visit henryford.com/sports and request an appointment with a Henry Ford sports medicine doctor.
Dr. Nancy White is a sports medicine doctor seeing patients at Henry Ford Medical Center-Columbus in Novi and at the William Clay Ford Center for Athletic Medicine in midtown Detroit.
Coach's Guide to Nutrition: Window of Opportunity
May 14, 2024
The 30 minutes following exercise, often referred to as the window of opportunity, is the best time to begin to refuel, rebuild and repair muscles.
Carbs plus protein in this window can help your students refuel and be ready to attack their next workout.
After an exercise session or game, muscles are depleted of glycogen, their primary energy source, and are in need of recovery from the stress of training. A small snack is all that is needed in this “window of opportunity.”
The focus should be on carbohydrates with some protein; the ideal snack would have more carbs than protein. Chocolate milk has both carbs and protein, along with electrolytes and fluids to rehydrate. Liquids are also more easily absorbed by the body to help refueling happen more quickly. Other refueling options could include a smoothie, yogurt and granola, or a cheese stick with fruit.
Within 2-3 hours, have a full meal to continue recovery.
Information above is excerpted from UDIM’s A Coach’s Guide to Nutrition.