| Sport is increasingly popular as we have more leisure | | | | problems later. |
| time and we are encouraged to be more active. | | | | The ten tips for success in sports |
| Obesity is increasing and becoming a problem in all | | | | 1. Very young people should not put extreme forces |
| groups of people, especially in children. These two | | | | on their spines and joints. Early gymnastics with large |
| pressures are increasing our levels of participation in | | | | ranges of movement may give problems later. |
| sport. | | | | 2. If you are hypermobile (very bendy or "double |
| However, sport is not a completely positive pursuit. | | | | jointed"), think very carefully about engaging in contact |
| Injury, even long term disability, is a distinct possibility in | | | | sports. Your joints are more vulnerable to injury and |
| many sports, and the risks of this kind of problem are | | | | your muscles less able to control their movements to |
| not fully recognised. | | | | keep them safe from damage. I know someone |
| Everywhere we are encouraged to exercise. When | | | | whose joints are so lax that dancing is a risky activity! |
| we are young we participate in sports at school and | | | | 3. Choose an activity to suit your physical type. Impact |
| college, and when we are older it is suggested we | | | | sports may not suit a high body weight, and a poorly |
| exercise for our health, our hearts, our weight and our | | | | coordinated person might not choose a complex |
| joints. It's pretty persuasive, isn't it? Even if we don't | | | | contact sport. High level sport is not for everyone, no |
| buy in to the whole message and take part we are | | | | matter how much they want to participate. |
| aware of the pressure. Is this pressure a wholly good | | | | 4. If you get injured, get a proper diagnosis from a |
| thing? | | | | qualified person and follow the treatment plan. Do not |
| Young people play sport for fun, not for their health! | | | | be tempted to go back to the activity until you are |
| When we are young we don't need to play sport for | | | | completely recovered and have regained your fitness. |
| our health, because unless we are unlucky we are | | | | Otherwise re-injury is likely. |
| already healthy. Young people play hard and put large | | | | 5. If you have a serious (or repeated) injury to your |
| forces through their limbs and joints, risking injury in their | | | | spine or one of your joints, consider giving up the |
| competitive efforts. This can have long term | | | | activity responsible and taking up some other, more |
| consequences. | | | | appropriate, pursuit. |
| Older people don't participate in sport and exercise as | | | | 6. Take the advice of a competent physical therapist if |
| much as younger people, but have more need to | | | | your problem persists. |
| exercise. Sensible exercising in the years from fifty | | | | 7. Moderate level exercise, such as brisk walking, can |
| onwards can give benefits in terms of life expectancy | | | | give you all the health benefits without the injury risks |
| and ability to function in life. At this age we are likely to | | | | of more extreme sports. |
| be more moderate in the level of effort and forces | | | | 8. Consider whether or not to encourage children |
| involved, so are at lower risk of injury. | | | | strongly to be competitive in sports where they can |
| If we look at it logically, young people don't need to | | | | get injured. |
| exercise (and do, hard) and older people do need to | | | | 9. Don't just start a new sport straight off, work up |
| exercise (and don't). There's a interesting paradox! We | | | | your fitness and participation until your physical |
| need to look at this unquestioning acceptance of | | | | condition and skill are good enough to avoid injury. Be |
| exercise as a good thing, as we hear very little of the | | | | particularly aware of this at the times of the year |
| personal and financial consequences of going for it. | | | | when sports and other activities may start and you |
| Heavy exercise (high level sport, military training) is | | | | are least used to them. |
| associated with a significant level of joint and other | | | | 10. Remember that fitness is very specific to the sport |
| injuries. Many of these problems get worse over time | | | | you are used to. Don't expect your fitness to transfer |
| and cause pain and disability. People in their forties and | | | | to a very different activity, or you may get muscle |
| fifties may need joint replacement due to the arthritic | | | | soreness or injury. For every new activity, you need to |
| changes which have developed since the initial injury. | | | | start again with your fitness. |
| However, We can take some precautions to avoid | | | | |