Spring Training Tips to Help
Avoid Injury
By Brian Meitner, Licensed Athletic Trainer
Whether you’re an avid athlete
or just enjoy a weekend
game at the park, be aware
that baseball and softball injuries are
common. But you can avoid injury—
as well as the bench—by taking a few
simple prevention steps this spring.
“Most baseball and softball injuries involve tendon irritation in the upper body, especially the chest and shoulder,” explained Brian Meitner, a licensed athletic trainer for Fort HealthCare. “If left uncared for, these injuries can take you out of the game—or worse, cause serious damage such as a rotator cuff tear. Taking care of yourself needs to be first priority.”
To prevent injury, Meitner recommends these steps:
- Take it slow for the first week or two. “Muscles need time to get acclimated. Marathon runners don’t start out by running 26 miles; they train slowly and build up their distance,” said Meitner.
- Always warm up before taking the field. Light jogging and a few basic stretches can help prepare your body for play.
- Vary your workouts. If you focus on pitching one day, work on something else, like fielding, the next. If you sit at a desk most of the day, W try to get up for at least five minutes every hour and stretch. Poor posture, which is common in people who sit for long periods of time, can exacerbate problems on the field.
- Avoid muscle imbalance by training all sides of a muscle. For example, if you work out your biceps, you should also work the triceps. Imbalances can contribute to injury.
Brian Meitner,
Licensed Athletic
Trainer
