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