As the ski season roars, this might be a good time to tell everyone what we can’t fix. We can’t fix brains, we can’t fix shattered joints, we can’t fix spinal cords. We can “fix” many things, though not those. And the things we can fix (or, more to the point, help get better as your body and Mother Nature heal them) will often rear their heads in 20 years to remind you of your carefree youth.
All this coming from someone with a degree in Sport Psychology? Sadly yes. Modern medicine is brilliant but it does not cure everything. So what to do? When you are heading for the soccer, field hockey, football, basketball court, volleyball, mountain biking or ski trails, be ready. Be fueled, hydrated, warmed up, prepared and focused. This is what top athletes do, and this is what you should do. If lunch is at 11 AM, don’t try to play a game at 3 without getting more fuel into your system. Get through the locker room and start warming up on your own before the rest of the team gets there. Ice and stretch any sore areas after activity. Pull on dry clothes and sweats if you are staying around to watch the JV game. Pay attention to what is happening on the field, not who is in the stands. Don’t do wacky things that you are not trained for.
If this all sounds simple, it is. Being a smart athlete will hopefully also keep you as a healthy athlete. (And this goes for you highway department and construction workers as well!) Sports medicine is great, but it is not as good as staying injury free.