People immediately think of damage to the back, knee, and shoulders when talking about sports injuries. Some might also think about concussions. However, many tend to forget that finger, hand, and wrist injuries are one of the most common among athletes. These might not sound serious, but the truth is they could be quite debilitating.
In this post, your reliable hand specialist from North Florida Hand and Wrist shares some tips on how you can avoid injuries to your fingers, hands, and wrists:
What Can You Do to Avoid Sports Injuries to Your Fingers, Hands, and Wrists?
Athletes and active people always put their hands, fingers, and wrists in compromising situations that could easily result in an injury. While there’s no way to ensure that you won’t get injured while you’re competing or even while you’re practicing, there are some things you can do so you can minimize the risk:
Wear Protective Gear When Using Sports Equipment
You should wear protective gear like gloves, wrist guards, sports tapes, or compression garments when using sports equipment. Even if it’s just for practice, wearing proper protective gear can significantly reduce the possibility of you getting hurt. These gears are designed and created to protect vulnerable body parts from repetitive motions or sudden impacts that could be damaging.
Practice Proper Technique
To avoid injuries, you must use proper techniques, no matter how simple the movements may be. This should be done not just when you’re playing against someone but at all times. For instance, you should always be aware of your form and hand placements when lifting weights. It would be best to practice the right moves when shooting a basketball or throwing a pitch. With the proper techniques, you can also improve your game and reduce the risk of injury.
Improve Your Strength and Flexibility
By incorporating strength and flexibility training into your daily routine, you can improve muscle strength and endurance, bone density, flexibility, and more. This works wonders for your tendons and ligaments, especially in your hands, fingers, and wrists. When your strength and flexibility improve, your body can withstand the rigors of sports better, and you can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.
Include Hand, Finger, and Wrist Exercises in Your Regular Routine
On top of strength and flexibility training, exercising your hands, fingers, and wrists can help strengthen these areas and limit the possibility of sports injuries in these parts. Just like you would do total body stretching, you should stretch and flex these muscles to improve the range of motion in your joints, have better blood flow, and ultimately reduce the risk of tears in your muscles and tendons.
Do Not Over-Exert Yourself
Understandably, you want to improve your game and be the best athlete you can be. However, you should recognize the importance of overusing your muscles and getting rest. An overuse injury is not uncommon, and it is a result of excessive repetitive use. This typically happens to weightlifters, swimmers, golfers, and baseball players. You might not immediately see signs of overuse; even when you do, you might simply “push through.” However, you should learn to listen to your body and recognize your limits to prevent injuries and allow your body to recover.
Conclusion
As mentioned, there is no way to eliminate the risk of injuries to your hands, fingers, or wrists, but the tips shared above by our hand specialist can significantly reduce that risk. As an athlete, you know how crucial it is to take care of your hands, fingers, and wrists, so follow the tips above so you can avoid injuries and be an even better athlete.
If you are experiencing problems with your hands, fingers, or wrists, or you are injured from playing sports or doing other physical activities, our hand specialists at North Florida Hand and Wrist can help you. Whether you need hand therapy or surgery, you can trust our experts to provide you with the best care possible. Schedule an appointment with North Florida Hand and Wrist today!
