Staying active through sports and other physical activities is one of the best ways to lead a long, healthy life. But in the blink of an eye, a sports injury can leave you sidelined for weeks, months or even years. Preventing a sports injury before it happens can be one of the best ways you can stay active and in the game. Injury prevention education needs to start early, especially for young athletes.

 

A PARTNERSHIP FOR STUDENT ATHLETES

 

Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Sugar Land works hard to help prevent sports injuries and promote sports safety in our community. As part of this mission, we partner with Fort Bend Independent School District to provide assistant athletic trainers at each high school to ensure their student athletes receive fast, comprehensive care for sports injuries.

 

“Our unique partnership gives students access to sports medicine experts right away,” said Dr. David Braunreiter, board-certified primary care sports medicine doctor with Houston Methodist Orthopedics & Sports Medicine at Sugar Land. “We can cover more games and practices to help in case of injury and educate on injury prevention.” A big part of Braunreiter’s work as a physician is preventing injuries. Braunreiter’s tips for preventing sports injuries are simple:

  • Start with a green light. Get a physical to make sure you’re healthy before the season starts.
  • Always wear proper protective equipment, clothing and well-fitting shoes designed for the sport you are playing. Protective eyewear and helmets are key for many sports.
  • Warm up and stretch before and after exercising. Warming up gradually increases the heart rate and can prevent muscle strain and joint injury.
  • Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water before, during and after your activity.

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