Weekend Warriors and PT
Nearly 9 million Americans pack a full week’s worth of exercise into just two days! If you are an occasional athlete, a group called ‘Weekend Warriors’, you are the largest population encountering nonprofessional sport-related injuries.
All this adds up to healthcare costs exceeding more than $18 billion per year.
So if you belong to the proud Weekend Warriors group and have got hurt – read on!
The most common injuries Weekend Warriors face include rotator cuff injuries, Achilles tendonitis, golf or tennis elbow, acute knee pain and ankle sprains.
Weekend Warriors and recreational athletes have much higher injury rates than regular exercising fitness counterparts, said Dr. Shruti Ambegaonkar, Owner of Orthocare Physical Therapy Center, Fairfax, Virginia.
Increasing age and lack of activity during the rest of the week play significant roles in these injuries. Tissue loses its elasticity and are not conditioned properly for rigorous activity with higher age and low physical activity levels. Still, patients can minimize injuries with a dose of common sense prevention.
Your Physical Therapist will start with a thorough physical exam to determine your overall health and identify any physical limitations.
Weekend Warriors can reduce Injury Risk
See the following steps to reduce your injury risk.
Consider visiting a Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) will assess a person’s strengths and weaknesses. From this, the PT will create a comprehensive fitness plan can be tailored to best fit each individual’s needs and goals. The plan will include a stair-step of preliminary goals that helps achieve end goals.
Warm Up Before Physical Activity, and Cool Down Before Finishing
Warmed muscles are ready for activity and are less susceptible to injury. Make warm ups and cool downs part of every workout.
Perform Light Stretching
Often, weekend warriors skip stretching altogether, and sometimes overstretch. Perform routine light stretching to help warm muscles up and increase range of motion.
Commit to Fitness Throughout the Week
Introduce physical activity throughout the week to eliminate muscle shock. This activity should include cardiovascular activity, stretching and weightlifting for balanced strength and conditioning.
Rest and Listen to Your Body
If you perform consecutive days of training, you may increase your injury risk. Many athletes think the more they train, the better they will play. However, the research suggests that tired body is more susceptible to muscle strain and other injuries. If you have consistent pains and strains over time, these can be a sign of health problems. These problems are among the most frequent causes that derail a fitness regime.
Weekend Warriors Please Contact us
As always – Contact us at 703-31-7610 or at info@orthocareptc.com to check how we can help you Move Better, Live Better!
Adapted from the About The Private Practice Section of the American Physical Therapy Association Statement. www.ppsapta.org
