Five Ways to Avoid Sports Injuries (part1)
Playing sports is a lot of fun. Getting hurt is not. Take these five steps to prevent injuries so you can stay in the game:
1. Wear protective gear, such as helmets, protective pads, and other gear.
2. Warm up and cool down.
3. Know the rules of the game.
4. Watch out for others.
5. Don’t play when you're injured.
Let's find out more about each of these.
Wear Protective Gear
Protective gear is anything you wear that helps keep you from getting hurt. The gear you wear depends on the sport you play.
Helmets are the most common protective gear. They protect your all-important head while you're playing football, hockey, baseball, softball, biking, skateboarding, and inline skating, just to name a few!
Make sure you're wearing the right helmet for your sport. For instance, don't wear your baseball batting helmet when you're playing football! Your helmet should fit snugly but comfortably, and if it has a strap — like a bike helmet does — you need to fasten it. Otherwise, it will fall off when you need it most.
Other sports require eye protection, mouthguards, pads, wrist, elbow, and knee guards. And don't forget your feet. Cleats are worn in football, baseball, softball, and soccer. These shoes have special rubber or plastic points on the soles to help your feet grip the ground when you run around.
Talk with your parents or your coach to know what gear you need. Then wear that gear whenever you're practicing or playing.
Warm Up
It's not a good idea to just bolt on to the field and start playing. You shouldn't even start stretching until you're a little warmed up. So take a light jog to get loosened up and ready to play.
Doing some stretching also can get you prepared to hit the field. By warming up, you get yourself ready to play. Warming up your muscles and practicing a sport help keep you safe, too.
Warm-ups that last 15 to 30 minutes and include slow, gradual stretching help lengthen your muscles and increase your blood flow and muscle temperature. That way, your muscles are ready to go and are much less likely to get hurt.
Source: kidshealth.org
Other links:
Ten Things to Do During Summer Break
Spending time outdoors good for kids’ eyes
t’s Time to Play (Part1)
It’s Time to Play (Part2)
Problems with Legs and Feet
Berry Tasty Muffins
