Avoid Sports-Related Injuries This Season

Preseason conditioning is essential to an athlete’s success because it helps prevent injury and physically prepares an athlete for his or her upcoming season. Athletes who disregard training in the weeks prior to the season put a great deal of strain on their bodies. It is because of this inadequate preseason strength training and conditioning that so many injuries occur during the first few weeks of play.

"I recommend that athletes start participating in strength and conditioning exercises at least six to eight weeks prior to the beginning of the season," explains Dr. Eric C. Hanson, sports medicine doctor at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics. "By doing so, athletes are able to reach an optimal level of performance while decreasing the risk of injury."

Athletes can reduce their chance of injury and reach their potential by the beginning of the season by implementing the following workouts in the months leading up to their sports season:

• Weight training
• Plyometrics
• Jump training
• Balance exercises
• Stretching

These exercises can help reduce the risk of injuries, such as tendinitis, muscle sprains, and ACL tears. Additionally, the youth injury prevention organization STOP Sports Injuries recommends that athletes keep the “10 percent rule” in mind while participating in preseason conditioning to avoid overtraining at the start of the season. Athletes should not increase weight training activity, mileage, or pace by more than 10 percent each week. This will allow athletes’ bodies proper time to adjust.

For additional information on preseason conditioning and strength training, call (877) 666-6080 to speak with one of the sports medicine doctors at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics.