| If you ever played football at an amateur or | | | | increase the amount of circulation to the muscles and |
| professional level, having just one injury can literally end | | | | therefore increasing the extensibility of the muscle |
| your career. Not only would affect your football | | | | fibers. The incidence of muscle strain and sprain are |
| career, you may have some troubles doing important | | | | reduced because the tissues can be stretched at a |
| activities of daily living. To ensure that you don't get | | | | greater range. |
| any of these injuries, your team or coach should | | | | Drink Water |
| introduce an injury prevention program. | | | | Make sure you are properly hydrated before going into |
| Some players think that this program is a waste of | | | | a game. If it's really hot outside, drink more than it is |
| time and better things can be done instead of | | | | necessary because sometimes you don't realize you |
| performing repetitive activities. In fact, studies have | | | | lose so much fluids. |
| proven that having a injury prevention program can | | | | Stretching |
| dramatically reduce the amount of injuries by 80%. As | | | | Stretch all of your major muscle groups like your |
| well as reducing injuries, the program will also save | | | | hamstrings, shoulders and back muscles. |
| money in terms of health bill costs and time. | | | | Warm Down |
| An injury prevention program should consist of the | | | | After a training session or a game, warm down. Don't |
| following things: | | | | just sit down and relax right after the game. Your |
| Warm ups | | | | muscles may have some muscle byproducts such as |
| It is important that players warm up their muscles and | | | | lactic acid circulating around your system. Try to help |
| joints before performing any high impact activities. A | | | | the body flush it out of your system by walking around |
| quick two minute jog around the football field can | | | | for a few minutes. |