Exercises to help avoid sports injuries
How to stay fit and healthy, and more importantly, injury free
Sports injuries are frustrating, striking down the elite and rookies alike. Every time you play sport or exercise the repeated wear and tear on your body adds up and may lead to injury.
But it doesn't have to, fitness experts say. There is a lot you can do to stay healthy while enjoying your favourite sport or fitness regime.
leg injuries, particularly around the knee, such as patellofemoral syndrome, iliotibial band syndrome, achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, hip bursitis and shin splints.
although running injuries seem varied and complicated, they're often quite simple, says Rick Hartley, an osteopath and biomechanic at Joint Dynamics in Central. Many injuries occur due to a lack of mobility and an inability to properly control the movement in the joints, he says.
"The knee gets told what to do by the foot, the ankle and the hip. If you don't have good ankle and hip mobility, and stability, as the foot hits the ground and sends energy up the kinetic chain, as there are weaknesses in that chain, injury will result," he says.
The solution? Ensure that you've got good flexibility and strength in the muscles needed for your sport.
