School has started. For many high school athletes that means fall sport training. Whether you’re winding down from summer sports or ramping up to gain an extra edge this fall, you need to condition responsibly. We’ve compiled a couple ideas for conditioning responsibly to avoid injury and pain.

Keep a Routine

Keep to a schedule of physical activity to help ensure success. Having a plan from the start of the day helps. Wake up and go for a run. Then plan a set time for weightlifting and practicing your sport. Now is the time to also focus on weaknesses and refine your game. However, don’t forget to warm up and cool down. Even though it doesn’t always seem necessary, and it is easy to just dive into a workout, warm-ups and cool-downs are crucial to staving-off injuries. Start out with a low-intensity exercise for 5-10 minutes and integrate gentle stretching. Following a workout, it’s time to cool down in a similar way. Gently bring down your heart rate and stretch out those muscles.

Don’t Skip Rest Intervals

Constant motion and speed don’t equal hard work. Recovery between sets and reps is important, too. In most cases, rest will yield better results in the long run. When we’re on our own, it’s easy to skip over or forget to take time to rest while going through a workout. Don’t fall into the trap of skipping the obvious as you get active. Stay hydrated. Let someone know what you’re doing and where you’re going. Stretch out, warm-up and cool down. Also, keep a healthy diet. It’s easy to forget good conditioning habits while spending days in the classroom, evenings at the game, or hanging out with friends.

Incorporate Weight Training, Aerobic, and Anaerobic Conditioning: Squats and deadlifts aren’t the only workout. You need a good balance of weight training, aerobic, and anaerobic conditioning, rounded out by stretching and practicing your specific sport. Strength training alone isn’t enough.

Chattanooga Non-Surgical Orthopedics is here for you! 

The pre-fall sports season is an ideal time to get a checkup with Dr. Hall. With our clinical exercise expertise, Dr. Hall can pinpoint appropriate needs for each and every patient. We can take a look at an area of your body that’s been causing issues or that could potentially. It’s also a time when injuries can happen. Regardless of what your need is, we can help! Our goal is to ensure all of our student-athletes are able to play at their peak performance level while maintaining their health!