Posted: 6/14/2007
For the adventurous, athletic soul, playing basketball or baseball outdoors can provide little thrill. Rock climbing, surfing, white water rafting, and mountain bike racing races pulses and engages the physical body in a myriad of exhilarating activities. But with this adventure can come serious health problems and accidents.
Michelle Sheperd, OTR, MAEd, Director of the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at Brown Mackie College — South Bend, advises on some best safety practices that adventure sports enthusiasts should use - the first and foremost being the regular use of a helmet.
"If you are engaging in activity and you can fall down hard on the ground on solid objects, a helmet can help protect from traumatic brain injury," says Sheperd.
If the head hits a stationary object at a high rate of speed, the brain will hit the front wall of the skull and then hit the back wall of the skull. If the brain swells, there is minimal extra room in the cranium and the result can be downward pressure on the brain stem and/or the spinal column, both of which are vital for life. The use of a helmet will add an extra layer of protection to the skull and brain, but will not guarantee ultimate protection from a forceful impact.
Proper warm-up is key to keeping muscles and joints flexible and in peak performance. "Stretching of muscles and joints prior to activities prevent injury from overextending tight structures and joint damage," says Sheperd. Warm-up activity should include stretching the Achilles tendon, hamstrings, and quadriceps area. "One should do exercises to stay fit, and not use an extreme sport as a method of becoming fit."
If someone should pull a muscle or joint, prior to getting medical attention, a person should first cease the activity. "Further damage could continue if a person believes that they have to work through the pain, believing that no pain equals no gain," says Sheperd. She advises that the injured area should be elevated and iced to decrease swelling. Ibuprofen or another type of anti-inflammatory should be taken if the person has no medical contraindication to taking the medicine.
Nutrition can play an important part in preparing the body for undergoing extreme sport activity. "Drink plenty of water or sport drinks which contain important electrolytes balance," advises Sheperd. "Avoid the use of alcohol, eat healthy foods including complex carbohydrates, such as pasta and baked potatoes, and protein rich foods such as chicken."
For those who love the thrill and excitement of adventure sports, these health tips can help make the experience a memorable — and safe — one.