By Nathan Fligelman

As summer nears its end, the Fall sports season is set to begin! With the practice and play of Fall sports comes a wave of thrilling fun and exciting competition. Unfortunately, injuries and ailments are also part of the game. So here’s some advice to help prevent some of the most common game day misfortunes.

From practice to championship level competition, the first important tip is to stay hydrated. Drinking enough water is crucial for success – especially in the heat.

It’s easy to get caught up in high stakes match-ups, but remember athletes must do their best to pace themselves and not over exert themselves.

Stretching and jogging throughout warm up sessions is a way to help prevent issues with your muscles.

Some might say availability is the best ability and you can’t help your team if you are out sick or injured. You don’t want to not show up because you are too tired or have pain from the wear and tear on your body that could have been avoided if you took the proper precautions.

Athletes can develop good safety habits early on and many of those include knowing the proper technique for a sport and making sure to learn how to properly use any equipment. Equipment, like helmets or pads in football, is designed to protect you and is meant to be worn at all times while participating in the activity.

The unfortunate truth of the sports world is that no matter how hard you work to avoid injury, you may still get hurt. Respond appropriately if you do get injured. Most importantly, if you suffer a head injury, like a suspected concussion, it is critical that you immediately discontinue your participation and seek the care and official diagnosis of a doctor. Normally, several weeks of rest are advised after a concussion, in order to ensure that the brain is fully healed before rejoining your team.

It’s tempting to want to play through an injury, like professional athletes often do, but don’t do it. Therapy and rest may be recommended and can be critical to proper healing. For more serious injuries, like a sprain, tear or fracture, athletes may need to seek the help of a specialist like an orthopedic surgeon.

This Fall, as you work hard and help lead your team to a championship win, make sure you also take care of yourself properly!