Fall Sports

Fall sports are here again, are you ready?

Darin Eklund, PA-C, ATC

Subhash Sahai, MD

The fall sports season is rapidly approaching, so before you hit the fields, trails, or the court, there are some things that need to be remembered.

If you have not already done so, get a sports physical done by your family physician. Sports physicals allow an assessment of student’s overall health, while also giving an opportunity to detect conditions that might make a student-athlete vulnerable to injury, illness, or occasionally even more life threatening conditions.

Remember the importance of stretching to improve performance and prevent injuries. You should stretch both before and after practice and games. Remember that the time after exercise is when muscles are most pliable and able to improve flexibility. Stretches should include neck, back, and both the upper and lower extremities. If there are any questions about an appropriate stretching program please contact our office for a handout.

With grueling heat and rigorous practice schedules even the fittest athlete can fall victim to heat illness. Keeping properly hydrated is the best defense against heat exhaustion. A good rule of thumb would be to drink 24 ounces before exercise and during the first 2 hours post-exercise, as well as 8 ounces for every 20 minutes spent exercising in the heat. Sports drinks are specially formulated to replenish electrolytes and are an excellent, if somewhat expensive, way of rehydrating. Caffeinated and carbonated beverages are not good rehydration fluids.

Other precautions to take in order to prevent the risk of heat illness include wearing light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, and taking frequent breaks in the shade.

Recognize the warning signs of dehydration and heat exhaustion, which include: dry lips and tongue, headache, weakness, dizziness, nausea, or muscle cramps.

Fall football has the highest risk of head injury. The risk of concussion can be lessened by wearing properly fitting helmets and custom fitted mouth guards. Do not cut off the back half of the mouthpiece to allow easier breathing because it allows your molars (the teeth in the back of the mouth) to hit together during trauma and transfer the concussive force up into the skull and brain.

If you do sustain a possible concussion always get a thorough examination from a trained professional before returning to any type of contact sport.

This article was for informative purposes only, and is not intended to provide specific treatment recommendations. If you have further questions or concerns about flexibility, heat illnesses, head injuries, or any other topic, please contact the Webster City Medical Clinic at (515) 832-6123.