Report Offers Tips Designed to Offset Danger of Outdoor Sports

Posted on August 16, 2012

Summer might be coming to a close, but nobody seems to have told the sun.  Various areas are still very much in the throes of a severe drought, and the heat can do abundant amounts of damage to anyone who remains outside for a long period of time.  Considering that the onset of the new school year coincides with these severe heat conditions, many students are going to be brought outside to take part in sporting activities.

It’s a good thing, then, that a new report offers safety tips for parents and students alike who plan to exercise outdoors.  The tips, which hail from an associate professor with NYU Langone Medical Center’s orthopedic surgery department, are geared toward helping people remain safe while engaging in exercise activities that aim to benefit the lungs, heart, and indeed, the entire body.

Before participating in a sport or other activity, a doctor should be consulted so that you can verify that doing so would be safe.  This tip is especially important for those persons who have a preexisting medical condition.  Careful preparation also involves warming up through light exercises before going 100%.  This gives your muscles and tendons a chance to limber up, so to speak.  Sports participants should also make sure to drink plenty of water before they engage in an activity (as well as during and after).  Proper hydration means drinking before you’re parched.

Once you’re all set to finish up an activity, give yourself a good amount of time to wind down.  Cooling off is an important part of the workout process.  You should also understand when it is in fact the right time to throw in the towel for the day.  Student athletes, especially, are pressured by coaches and peers to work out past the point where it would be considered healthy.  In a competitive environment, it’s relatively easy for a student to demand more of their body than it might be willing to give.  To avoid injuries in such situations, students can alternate between different sports and cross train.  At the end of a season, they should also take a couple of weeks to just take it easy.

Some of the most serious injuries affecting college and high school athletes across the country nowadays are concussions.  Parents should educate themselves on this topic and figure out what types of symptoms to look out for.  They should also make sure that the student’s school has an appropriate policy to deal with a concussion situation.  If a concussion is suspected, that individual should be immediately taken out of whatever game is being played.

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