ptspin
by Amber Narro
summer sun? good times. summer
injuries? not so much.
Scott Higgs
Summertime
activities
are
much
anticipated not only for children, but adults
as well. And if we haven’t taken care of
our bodies during our “off season,” we are
capable of injuring ourselves. Broken bones,
torn ligaments, strains and sprains are just a
few of the ailments that can result from lack
of preparation for summer sporting events.
There is a reason athletes have spring
training. If people go back to summer softball
leagues after 10 straight months of not so
much as tossing a ball, they run the risk of
potentially serious injury. The body needs a
gentle introduction.
“I recommend starting with stretching
exercises and some cardio activity,” says
Physical Therapist Scott Higgs. “Short runs
can help build endurance but also can start
preparing the body for more activity without
injury.”
Even if there is no injury, just recovering
from the activity can be harsh. Higgs said,
“When we were 22 and played a pick-up
game of basketball after long periods without
activity, it may have taken a day to recover
and get rid of the pain. At 40, 50 or older,
it can take days to get over the result of this
“new” activity.”
Even nagging pains can creep up on
summer athletes. Back pain or shoulder pain
that was never properly treated can sneak up
on athletes and give them problems when
activity is reintroduced.
Higgs says that people should pay close
attention when the body is in pain and get
proper treatment. “Even back pain that hasn’t
presented itself in years can return later,” he
says. “We shouldn’t ignore pre-existing pain
and wait for it to come back if we return to a
more active lifestyle.”
Higgs says that the summer can be a
busy time for Ponchatoula Therapy because
people waited to have surgeries due to school
or work responsibility. Physical therapists are
treating patients through recovery, but he
says he also sees a fair amount of people for
injuries due to fatigue.
“We see people who want to tackle a yard
project in a day,” he said. “Not only is that
dangerous because of the heat, but most of
us are not used to throwing around heavy
bags of sand or dirt as well as bending over
for long periods of time.”
Higgs says it’s important that people don’t
dive in and start working or participating in
summer activities. He recommends to take
the landscaping in small chunks rather than
dedicating an entire day to it.
A final note, stay safe on the roads. One
group that increases during the summer are
those recovering from car accidents. “There
Scott Higgs’s summer athletes Luke, Abry, Hunter Grace and
Grant.
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