Five Ways to Keep Injuries at Bay During Back-to-School Season

‘Tis the season for back to school! With this time of year comes hectic schedules, sports, and higher stress levels for parents and students alike. The last thing anyone wants is to be sidelined with injury during the season no matter what level you’re playing at or if movement is simply playground dates or weekend races.

We’re going to share how to not only stay injury-free but also how to maintain those stress levels by taking care of your body with healthy habits and maintenance. 

Injury prevention through stretching 

Any seasoned athlete knows the importance of stretching before and after practice and games. But sometimes you might need a deeper stretch to really get those kinks out of muscles that may be prone to injury. 

Scheduling regular monthly maintenance sessions of deep stretching is a great way to prevent overuse injuries and to keep old injuries that may be acting up at bay. 

Improve Injury Recovery Times

Coming back from an injury can result in loss of flexibility and a decrease in range of motion. Physical therapy can help improve mobility and strengthen the body with treatments, modalities such as cupping, and specific, targeted exercises. 

Suffer a concussion? Make sure you understand the symptoms of concussions and when to see a doctor if the symptoms do not go away on their own. Physical therapy can help with lingering dizziness or headaches as a result of concussions.

Schedule Regular Body Care 

Athletes and non-athletes alike should take care of their bodies. We only get one! From posture adjustments to deep stretching, everyone deserves a little body care to support their musculoskeletal system. Whether you’re just starting your student athlete journey, a Division I collegiate athlete, a weekend warrior,  head coach of the peewee soccer team, or if you work a sedentary 9-5 - chances are you experience muscle tightness - taking care of those aches and pains with regular preventative physical therapy is how you take care of your body. 

Practice Healthy Posture Habits

With back to school - we know that backpacks can cause shoulder and back pain if not utilized properly. Make sure bags are packed with the heavier materials in the back. Choose an ergonomic backpack with padded shoulder straps. 

When working at a desk - make sure to use proper ergonomics. Keep your head, shoulders, and hips stacked, like you could draw a straight line from your ears, through your shoulders down to your hips when seated at a desk. Your hips and knees should be at 90 degrees to help keep a neutral spine. Your monitor when working should be 18 - 24 inches from your face with the top ⅓ of your monitor at eye level. Utilizing good posture when at a desk (especially when working on a computer) can help prevent back pain and injuries like carpal tunnel. 

Set Healthy Habits

Taking care of your body (and your student athlete!) isn’t just about preventing injury and taking care of your body - it also means fueling your body properly with good nutrition habits, getting enough sleep, and properly hydrating (especially before practices and games). 

Whether you have a student back in the classroom and/or on the field, or if you’re a working professional who loves to be a weekend warrior and wants to stay injury-free, taking care of your body to prevent injury should not be an afterthought.  Implementing a regular body care routine and healthy habits will keep you and your family and will ensure everyone can enjoy their favorite activities all season long.

Schedule a free discovery call to learn about our physical therapy and monthly maintenance packages and how they can help prevent injuries in athletes of any age or level.