Spring marks an exciting time of year for anyone who enjoys being active and playing sports. With the weather warming up, spring marks the beginning of the sports season! If you’re someone who plans on participating in sports this spring, whether it is with a developed team or on your own, you may be chomping at the bit to get out there and start. However, it is important not to overlook the importance of stretching prior to physical activity - especially at the start of the season. Learn more about how stretching can benefit your athletic performance and what to do if you do suffer from a sports injury this spring.
If you suffer an injury while working out or playing a sport, AFC Urgent Care Edgewater is here to support you. Our clinic accepts walk-in patients daily with short wait times, making it easy to get the care that you need if you suffer from an injury. Our medical providers are board-certified and able to quickly and accurately diagnose your injury at the time of your visit so that you can get the treatment that you need to get back on the field as soon as possible. Simply walk into the clinic, or schedule an appointment online.
Common Spring Sports Injuries
If you’re someone who enjoys staying physically active through participating in a sport, you likely are familiar with how devastating sports injuries can be. Not only can they bring a long recovery time and limit your day-to-day activity, but they also leave you on the sidelines for the rest of the season in some cases. Depending on what sport you participate in, the injuries you are at risk for may vary. However, some of the common spring sports injuries include:
- Pulled muscles
- Sprains and strains
- Fractured bones
- Torn ligaments
- Tendon damage
- Dislocations
How Stretching Prevents Sports Injuries
When you play sports regularly, injuries are often just a part of the game. However, after a long winter off, our bodies are not used to the heavy demands of a sport which puts us at an increased risk of injury. Luckily, many sports injuries can be prevented with proper warm-ups and preventative measures like stretching.
Stretching your muscles and increasing your overall flexibility has many benefits for your health. However, for athletes, stretching can help prevent injuries while playing. Stretching regularly during the week and especially before participating in a sport allows your muscles to warm up and prepare to be more giving and supporting to your joints. This means that you are less likely to suffer injuries like pulled muscles, sprained ankles, muscle spasms, and more.
When to Seek Medical Care for an Injury
Although stretching has many health benefits and should be a part of your daily routine, especially on game days, sometimes injuries are inevitable while playing a sport. If you do suffer an injury while participating in a sport, it is important to stop exercising and seek medical care. Sometimes, the adrenaline of the game can mask how serious an injury actually is. If you continue to be physically active while injured, you risk further injuring yourself.
When you visit urgent care for a sports injury, your medical provider will be able to evaluate your injury by looking for any visible abnormalities and by manipulating the affected area to look for limitations in movement. In some cases, x-ray images may be necessary to view the injury in more detail. Your medical provider will provide a diagnosis and suggest a treatment plan to help ensure that you make a swift recovery and can return to full activity as soon as possible.
Visit AFC Urgent Care Edgewater for Same-Day Injury Care in Edgewater, MD
At AFC Urgent Care Edgewater, our clinic is equipped to handle a variety of common injuries. Our medical providers are board-certified and trained to accurately diagnose and provide treatment for a variety of common sports injuries. Using our on-site digital x-ray suite, our medical staff will look at your injury in detail to determine the required treatment to get you back to your team as quickly as possible.
We accept walk-in patients for patients in Edgewater, MD, and surrounding communities. Our clinic maintains short wait times so that you can get the care you need when it’s convenient for you. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer affordable care for self-paying patients. Walk into the clinic today!
