When asked, all eight SportsCare athletic trainers agreed the best way to prevent injury is to prepare in advance for the demands of your sport. Showing up to the first practice without having done any training during the off season will not only put you behind the progress of others, but also put your body at risk for injury.
Taking the time to create a base of strength and endurance will help prevent possible injuries from occurring. Focus will be different based on the sport you play, but everyone should build a program which addresses strength and flexibility for all upper and lower extremities.
ALL ATHLETES need core conditioning and should allow multiple weeks to work on their cardiovascular endurance.
One last aspect which is often overlooked is nutrition. You cannot feed your body junk and expect it to perform without a hitch. Adjust your diet to fuel your body with the proper nutrients it needs.
If you have any questions give one of our clinics a call. Our athletic trainers would be happy to help your high school athlete avoid injury while guiding them to the level of play they desire.