Studies reveal that 2,000 out of every 10,000 professional athletes deal with injuries. For those into extreme sports, there is always the concern that an injury could be career-ending. The awareness of sports injuries is on the rise, which means that professional athletes and those who simply risk body and limb for fun are better equipped. For those who would like to live on the edge longer, a little bit of prep will go a long way.
Work On Muscle Conditioning
Whether you’ve decided to take up parkour to stretch your gymnastic abilities or you plan to take on an orange ski slope on a winter holiday, conditioning will go a long way to a safe and enjoyable experience. Even if you are fit and used to physical exertion, it’s important to strengthen muscles and muscle groups. A good muscle base provides the strength, agility, balance and flexibility you need to make split-second decisions and adjustments to your movements. Weight training to build strength in support muscles goes a long way, such as muscles surrounding knees, ankles, wrists and shoulders.
Create A Sustainable Training Routine
One of the fastest ways to experience burnout and do damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments, is by overworking muscles. A good training routine will incorporate sufficient rest periods depending on the sport. During training, especially intense training, fitness buffs often refer to this period as tearing the muscles. This literally means that there are microscopic tears that form in muscles during training. The healing process is necessary in order for the muscles to grow, as fibroblast cells are released to restore these muscles. Massages, ice baths and foam rolling are ideal for after-workout muscle repair. Vibrating foam rollers are particularly helpful in healing microscopic tears faster, as the vibrations stimulate blood flow and increase pain tolerance.
Use The Right Equipment Or Gear
Custom gear that’s tailored to fit you will not only make a difference in your performance; it will also go a long way in preventing injuries. An example is a custom-made ski boot that’s molded to the shape of your foot and leg. By providing support to the leg and foot, the skier has more control over the skis, which allows the skier to control the skis and not the other way around. This allows a safer, more controlled trip down the slopes that causes less fatigue and prevents unnecessary injuries. Other simple, yet effective customizations that can change the game include sports helmets, mouth guards, seats and handles.
Work On Coordination
In extreme sports, it’s important to ramp up coordination to ensure that when it’s time to make those split-second decisions, you’re able to do so safely. Coordination exercises are task-oriented and can increase in intensity to match the required levels. These exercises work as a warning system to allow you to adjust pace, direction, or even intensity as needed, as your body will be able to recognize the various stressors in the field.
Avoiding injuries is not just important in order to remain in the game for the season, but also to enjoy the sport in the years to come. From a safety perspective, preventative training is a must, especially for extreme sports enthusiasts.
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