Weekend Warrior Protection Strategies

It starts out as a “friendly” game, then before you know it, it’s a full-out tooth and nail competition.  Monday rolls around and you’re paying for the weekend of fun.  Sadly, many injuries can turn into long-term problems.  Here’s how to protect and repair yourself if an injury does occur.

Prepare:
Arrive early to prepare for the event
Warm up with 5 minutes of cardio exercise followed by stretching the key muscles
Hydrate your body prior to your game
Gear up with the correct equipment for the specific event
Listen to your body’s clues that you’ve had enough

Prevent:
Replenish electrolytes, minerals and protein within 2 hours of the game to recharge your cells
Stretch post event to keep muscles loose
Keep moving as your body cools down to prevent muscle spasm

Repair:
Have a chiropractic adjustment to align anything that may have jarred during your activity
Protect any areas that feel stressed or over-stretched
Rest to give your body time to repair and rejuvenate
Apply compression to strains or sprains
Ice or a cold compress will ease muscle pain
Elevate swollen areas to allow blood to leave the site of injury