Staying Safe on the Field
Spring sports aren’t all fun and games — they can be the source of many injuries, such as broken bones, sprains, and concussions. If you or your star athlete are getting back on the field this season, here is some advice to prevent injury and when to seek emergency care.
Wear Protective Gear & Inspect Your Equipment
It’s critical that you always wear these recommended safety gear items, depending on the activity:
- Catcher’s sets
- Kneepads
- Helmet
- Goggles
- Mouthguards
Any small defects in your equipment can cause an accident. From lacrosse nets to cleats to helmets, be sure to give your gear a quick check.
Always Warm-Up
This step is important to protect your muscles and joints and prevent overuse injuries. When your ligaments aren’t properly warmed up, they become stiff, are less flexible, and are more prone to injury. Warming up your body by stretching can help reduce your chances of a tear or strain.
Drink Plenty of Water
Dehydration can be a big problem for athletes — especially as temperatures rise here in Texas over the spring and summer. Just like warming up, staying hydrated lubricates your muscles and prepares you to give your best performance. If you don’t drink enough water, you could feel fatigued and even experience fainting.
Fall Properly
If your balance is lost while you’re in the zone, falling the right way can help you minimize injury. It’s best to fall on your side and not brace yourself with your arms. Above all, be sure to protect your head from injury.
When to Seek Emergency Sports Injury Treatment
Concussions, sprains, breaks, and other injuries are all common when you play ball. While some minor injuries can be treated by urgent care, others are more serious and should always be handled by one of our emergency medical doctors at Excel ER.
If you spot any of these emergency symptoms, head to an emergency center right away:
- Visibly broken or protruding bones.
- Confusion.
- Loss of consciousness.
- Severe headache.
- Vomiting or nausea.
- Unusual behavior.
- Drowsiness or sleepiness.
Sports Injury Treatment in Longview, Nacogdoches, and Odessa
Our skillful team at Excel ER is equipped and trained to accurately diagnose and determine the extent of your injury. From on-site imaging to diagnostic tests including EKGs, coronary angiograms, and more, our proficient staff has a variety of diagnostic procedures and tests available to help identify the root cause of pain.
Call our helpful team to book an appointment at (903) 500-7321 or online via our online contact form.
