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Safely Spring into Seasonal Sports

"While the unseasonably warm weather this winter has given people more opportunity than usual to continue to be active and exercise outdoors, it’s still important to take steps to avoid injury before launching back into a spring sport, or starting one for the first time," says Dr. Michael Jordan, a board-certified family and sports medicine physician whose practice is located at Amherst Health Center. Lack of proper conditioning can result in a season-ending injury. Overuse injuries, like tendonitis or tennis elbow, are very common at this time of year.

Dr. Jordan offers these tips to safely ease back into a sport or start exercising after a long break:

Progressively prepare yourself for your sport. Think about what kind of flexibility and activity level it takes and work up to it. Walking is one of the easiest ways to ease back into physical activity.
Remember to check equipment, especially footwear. Make sure your equipment is in good shape and still appropriate for you.
Stretch frequently. Think about which muscles you’re using the most and stretch before and after activity. Contact a sports medicine physician if you’re unsure what stretches to do for a particular muscle group.
Consult a doctor or athletic trainer before beginning any new fitness routine. If you’re about to start an activity you’ve never done before, it’s a good idea to consult with a medical professional first, especially if you’ve had previous sports injuries.
Maintain good health all year. Think about indoor activities you can do to keep fit in all seasons.

Starting your season on the right foot is one of the best ways to prevent injury. Sports medicine can help you avoid getting hurt by focusing on lifelong fitness and injury prevention. If you’re injured, Dr. Jordan can help you maximize function and minimize disability and time away from regular activities. Call 716/689-0040 for more information or to schedule an appointment. When calling to schedule an appointment, please let our patient service representative know that you would like a sports medicine appointment with Dr. Jordan, rather than a primary care appointment. Learn more about Sports Medicine here.