Sports and rec, not wreck

  • Published
  • Submitted by 341st Missile Wing Safety
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  According to the National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (National Institutes of Health), if a professional athlete dislocates a joint or tears a ligament, it makes the news; but anyone who plays a sport can be injured. 

There are three groups - children and adolescents, middle-aged athletes and women - who are particularly vulnerable.  While most Airmen are in good physical condition, family members may not be as ready for summer activities.  But whether or not someone is conditioned, injuries happen.

Since October 2010, there have been 1,259 reported sports and recreation mishaps; 6 Class A; 5 Class B; and 1,248 Class C.  During the 2011 Critical Days of Summer, there were 354 mishaps: 3 Class A; and 351 Class C.  Any one of those Class C mishaps has the potential to become more severe.  These statistics are only the active duty incidents. Imagine if the numbers included family members.

What can groups at high risk do to prevent sports injuries? Anyone who exercises is potentially at risk for a sports injury.  The following injury prevention tips were taken from the NIAMS website at http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Sports_Injuries/default.asp#ra_20:
 
  • Avoid bending knees past 90 degrees when doing half knee bends.
  • Avoid twisting knees by keeping feet as flat as possible during stretches.
  • When jumping, land with knees bent.
  • Do warm-up exercises not just before vigorous activities such as running, but also before less vigorous ones such as golf.
  • Don't overdo it.
  • Do warm-up stretches before activities.  Stretch the Achilles tendon, hamstring and quadriceps areas and hold the positions.  Don't bounce.
  • Cool down following vigorous sports.  For example, after a race, walk or jog for five minutes so heart rate goes down gradually.
  • Wear properly fitting shoes that provide shock absorption and stability.
  • Use the softest exercise surface available and avoid running on hard surfaces such as asphault and concrete.  Run on flat surfaces.  Running uphill may increase the stress on the Achilles tendon and the leg itself.
For more information on preventing sports injuries, visit the following links:
http://www.ok.gov/health/Disease,_Prevention,_Preparedness/Injury_Prevention_Service/Fact_Sheets/Sports_and_Recreation/index.html
http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/doernbecher/patients-families/safety-center/parents/sports-rec