| Sport is increasingly popular as we have more leisure | | | | spines and joints. Early gymnastics with large ranges |
| time and we are encouraged to be more active. | | | | of movement may give problems later.2. If you are |
| Obesity is increasing and becoming a problem in all | | | | hypermobile (very bendy or "double jointed"), think very |
| groups of people, especially in children. These two | | | | carefully about engaging in contact sports. Your joints |
| pressures are increasing our levels of participation in | | | | are more vulnerable to injury and your muscles less |
| sport.However, sport is not a completely positive | | | | able to control their movements to keep them safe |
| pursuit. Injury, even long term disability, is a distinct | | | | from damage. I know someone whose joints are so |
| possibility in many sports, and the risks of this kind of | | | | lax that dancing is a risky activity!3. Choose an activity |
| problem are not fully recognised.Everywhere we are | | | | to suit your physical type. Impact sports may not suit a |
| encouraged to exercise. When we are young we | | | | high body weight, and a poorly coordinated person |
| participate in sports at school and college, and when | | | | might not choose a complex contact sport. High level |
| we are older it is suggested we exercise for our | | | | sport is not for everyone, no matter how much they |
| health, our hearts, our weight and our joints. It's pretty | | | | want to participate.4. If you get injured, get a proper |
| persuasive, isn't it? Even if we don't buy in to the whole | | | | diagnosis from a qualified person and follow the |
| message and take part we are aware of the | | | | treatment plan. Do not be tempted to go back to the |
| pressure. Is this pressure a wholly good thing?Young | | | | activity until you are completely recovered and have |
| people play sport for fun, not for their health! When we | | | | regained your fitness. Otherwise re-injury is likely.5. If |
| are young we don't need to play sport for our health, | | | | you have a serious (or repeated) injury to your spine |
| because unless we are unlucky we are already | | | | or one of your joints, consider giving up the activity |
| healthy. Young people play hard and put large forces | | | | responsible and taking up some other, more |
| through their limbs and joints, risking injury in their | | | | appropriate, pursuit.6. Take the advice of a competent |
| competitive efforts. This can have long term | | | | physical therapist if your problem persists.7. Moderate |
| consequences.Older people don't participate in sport | | | | level exercise, such as brisk walking, can give you all |
| and exercise as much as younger people, but have | | | | the health benefits without the injury risks of more |
| more need to exercise. Sensible exercising in the | | | | extreme sports.8. Consider whether or not to |
| years from fifty onwards can give benefits in terms of | | | | encourage children strongly to be competitive in sports |
| life expectancy and ability to function in life. At this age | | | | where they can get injured.9. Don't just start a new |
| we are likely to be more moderate in the level of | | | | sport straight off, work up your fitness and participation |
| effort and forces involved, so are at lower risk of | | | | until your physical condition and skill are good enough |
| injury.If we look at it logically, young people don't need | | | | to avoid injury. Be particularly aware of this at the |
| to exercise (and do, hard) and older people do need to | | | | times of the year when sports and other activities |
| exercise (and don't). There's a interesting paradox! We | | | | may start and you are least used to them.10. |
| need to look at this unquestioning acceptance of | | | | Remember that fitness is very specific to the sport |
| exercise as a good thing, as we hear very little of the | | | | you are used to. Don't expect your fitness to transfer |
| personal and financial consequences of going for | | | | to a very different activity, or you may get muscle |
| it.Heavy exercise (high level sport, military training) is | | | | soreness or injury. For every new activity, you need to |
| associated with a significant level of joint and other | | | | start again with your fitness.Jonathan Blood Smyth is |
| injuries. Many of these problems get worse over time | | | | author of Secrets of Pacing and a Superintendent |
| and cause pain and disability. People in their forties and | | | | Physiotherapist in an NHS Hospital in the South-West |
| fifties may need joint replacement due to the arthritic | | | | of the UK. With over 15 years experience of managing |
| changes which have developed since the initial injury. | | | | orthopaedic conditions and looking after joint |
| However, We can take some precautions to avoid | | | | replacements, he now specializes in the management |
| problems later.The ten tips for success in sports1. Very | | | | of chronic pain conditions. For more information on |
| young people should not put extreme forces on their | | | | these and other subjects see The Physiotherapy Site. |