Prevention and Treatment of Sports Injury

Last November 30, the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA) Games officially opened at the Philippine Arena. Sportscasters and commentators claim that this is the first time that an indoor opening for an international sporting competition was done, deviating from the usual open Olympic stadium oval track type ceremony. Filipinos take pride for this year’s biggest sporting event with the introduction of many new competitive sports, leading to a record of 56 sports and 529 sporting events; something new in SEA Games history.

The preparation for this year’s SEA Games opening, in my opinion, has been equally emotional and physically draining to many adolescents and young adults who are competing for love of sports and pride and honor of country.

Be prepared for sports – “Know thy sport.” Prevention is better than injury recovery and rehabilitation. The best way to prevent sports injury is to come prepared, both mentally and physically, for your sport. Master your sport. Many adolescents and young adult athletes succumb to become “weekend warriors” who train more than training allows them to do. Reward yourself with a good weekend rest. You need to balance your training, for many injuries happen not during an actual game or competition. Many athletes lose their careers because of over-practice and injury during practice.

How to avoid practice and overuse injuries

1. Wear and use proper gear (example: helmets, pads, shoes, gloves, layered clothing);

2. Understand the rules of your game and follow them;

3. Warm up slowly before activity. This is essentially important in dynamic sports (example: basketball and soccer);

4. Always use proper body mechanics. Get tips from a certified trainer or coach;

5. Listen to your body. Pain is a warning sign. Don’t work through pain. Rest and do light activities until the pain subsides;

6. Train for your sport. Use specific skills training to prepare for your sport;

7. Cross train. Cross training avoids boredom, staleness and monotony. Cross training allows specific muscles to rest. It is also a good physical conditioning strategy.

Immediate sports injury treatment

Use R.I.C.E. Method treatment.

1. Rest prevents further injury and allows healing;

2. Ice cures pain and swelling;

3. Compression supports the injured joint and prevents further swelling; and

4. Elevation adds up to muscle resting and reduction of swelling.

SEA Games history

In 1959 the first Southeast Asian Peninsular Games was held in Thailand. The five founders of the Southeast Asian Peninsular Games are Burma (now Myanmar), Thailand, Vietnam, Laos Malaya (now Malaysia), and Kampuchea (Cambodia). Our country and Indonesia were formally admitted in 1977, just about the year when the Peninsular Games was changing its name to Southeast Asian Games.