Sports Safety
Reading this article
Topic pages summarize public health information in plain language. They may describe common causes and treatments in general terms; your own plan of care depends on your clinician’s exam, history, and tests. Use what you read here to prepare questions—not to start, stop, or change medications or to self-diagnose.
Playing sports can be fun, but it can also be dangerous if you are not careful. You can help prevent injuries by:
- Getting a physical to make sure you are healthy before you start playing your sport
- Wearing the right shoes, gear, and equipment
- Drinking lots of water
- Warming up and stretching
If you have already hurt yourself playing a sport, make sure you recover completely before you start up again. If possible, protect the injured part of your body with padding, a brace, or special equipment. When you do start playing again, start slowly.