Major events like the Olympics can inspire people of all ages to try out a new sport or activity. Dr. Kelechi Okoroha, a Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgeon, wants people to get involved in new activities while recognizing some of the common sports injuries that can occur.
“Whenever you’re starting a new sport, you always want to work your way into it,” says Dr. Okoroha.
Besides getting a good warmup and stretching, one of the most important things athletes can do to avoid injury when starting a new sport is to master the movements.
“It’s important to emphasize proper mechanics when doing these sporting activities,” says Dr. Okoroha.
For jumping athletes, such as football or basketball players, common injuries can come from not landing properly.
“A lot of times when athletes land, they have either weakness in their hips or their knees, and they land in a valgus, or knock-kneed position,” he explains.
Landing in this way can lead to an increased risk of ACL and meniscus injuries.
“To prevent that, you want to pair with a physical therapist to do jump training to make sure you’re landing straight and not in valgus,” says Dr. Okoroha.
Once you have the proper mechanics down, it’s important to strengthen those muscle movements through practice.
Dr. Okoroha also notes that fatigue can increase valgus knee landing. Endurance training can decrease fatigue, and therefore valgus landing.
“Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network.”
Republished with permission[/vc_message]
Disclaimer
Artificial Intelligence Disclosure & Legal Disclaimer
AI Content Policy.
To provide our readers with timely and comprehensive coverage, South Florida Reporter uses artificial intelligence (AI) to assist in producing certain articles and visual content.
Articles: AI may be used to assist in research, structural drafting, or data analysis. All AI-assisted text is reviewed and edited by our team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our editorial standards.
Images: Any imagery generated or significantly altered by AI is clearly marked with a disclaimer or watermark to distinguish it from traditional photography or editorial illustrations.
General Disclaimer
The information contained in South Florida Reporter is for general information purposes only.
South Florida Reporter assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in the contents of the Service. In no event shall South Florida Reporter be liable for any special, direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damages or any damages whatsoever, whether in an action of contract, negligence or other tort, arising out of or in connection with the use of the Service or the contents of the Service.
The Company reserves the right to make additions, deletions, or modifications to the contents of the Service at any time without prior notice. The Company does not warrant that the Service is free of viruses or other harmful components.
