Today, besides those who do professional sports, the number of those who turn to sports for health is increasing, and injuries are inevitable when certain rules are not observed. It is necessary to be much more careful when doing sports outdoors, especially in the winter cold. Stating that the cold weather puts extra loads on our body and therefore, sports injuries increase in winter months, Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy said, “Cold weather causes a decrease in the effective work of our muscles during sports. This slows down the elasticity and reaction time of the muscles and causes us to be more prone to injury, especially while playing sports. “Our muscles, ligaments and tendons are at higher risk of sprains, strains, pulls and tears in cold weather.” Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy talked about 5 misconceptions that cause sports injuries and gave valuable warnings and advice.
Inadequate heating and cooling
One of the most valuable ways to prevent injury in sports; Emphasizing that it is important to warm up properly and do stretching exercises before sports, Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy said, “Cold muscles are more prone to stretching and tearing compared to hot muscles. Therefore, it will tolerate faster movements, twists, and jolts. He should not see warming up as a waste of time when starting sports, avoid stressing the muscles all of a sudden, and for this, warm-up training should definitely be done. Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy underlines that it is necessary to ensure the cooling of the body, including the movements applied for rewarming and stretching exercises after sports, and therefore, it is necessary not to neglect to cool the body gradually after each sport.
Not using appropriate equipment
Stating that the protective equipment suitable for the sport should be used completely, Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy states that choosing the right clothes, especially shoes, in accordance with whatever sport is practiced, is a condition for the prevention of sports injuries. Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy explained, “The use of appropriate equipment and clothes has a great effect on injuries that occur in winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding, which have seen a great increase in the interest of the society in recent years.”
Disregard for existing injuries
Acıbadem Ataşehir Hospital Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy stated that many important injuries can occur as a result of existing minor, neglected injuries and says: “Health issues such as pain, swelling or noise when you use the joint should not be neglected and should definitely be treated by consulting a doctor. If it is necessary to continue sports or training, the intermittent protection of the relevant body parts during the treatment should also be considered. Otherwise, the problem you refer to as a minor injury may lead to problems that are more difficult to treat in the future, even injuries.”
Desire for immediate results
One of the precious mistakes that especially those who are new to sports or training fall into; Noting that it is expected to get high efficiency from the sport, Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy says that serious injuries can occur due to the fact that body parts such as our knees or shoulders are under more than they can withstand. Stating that our movements have been greatly restricted during the pandemic process that has been going on for the last three years, Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy “At the beginning of the most common injuries in the last period; Stretching or tearing of the tissue bands that connect the bones, straining or breaking of the muscles or tendons. Apart from these, specific injuries, fractures and dislocations in joints such as knee, ankle, shoulder and hip are among the common orthopedic diseases. In order not to encounter these issues, one should set realistic goals for himself and spread his goals to the long term rather than the short term.” said.
Ignoring the risks of cold weather
Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist Assoc. Dr. Safa Gürsoy draws attention to the fact that cold weather puts extra burdens on our body and gives the following warning: “Cold weather causes our muscles to work less effectively during sports and slows down the elasticity of the muscles and the response time. For this reason, our body becomes more prone to injury during the winter months, especially while doing sports. Our muscles, ligaments and tendons are at higher risk of sprains, strains, pulls and tears in cold weather. In order to prevent them, it is necessary to be much more careful when doing sports in the winter months.” (BSHA)
