Every season the athletic training room is occupied with a variety of injuries. Hours of practice can slowly wear down on the body. Being part of a sport comes with many responsibilities, and from running drills to competing at state, it is important to take care of one’s body. 

“As much as I love my sport, I can’t ignore the effects it has had on my body. I now have to spend a lot of time trying to treat and manage injuries I had pushed through,” junior Aimee Brester said.

This situation is far from uncommon.

“The majority of injuries happen when athletes, despite knowing their limits, keep pushing themselves and do too much,” Morten Orren, Liberty’s athletic trainer said.

Ignoring an injury in the hopes of playing in an upcoming game can have long term consequences.

“It is important to follow medical advice, even if you need to sit out for a game or two,” Orren said.

There are, however, a surplus of ways to take care of oneself.

“The most important thing is to be aware of your body. Following that, having proper nutrition and sleep habits are crucial. As for pre-practice treatments, massages, KT-taping, heat, stretching, all can help,” Orren said.

Following these guidelines helps to prepare one’s body for the strain that is put on it. This also helps with prevention of injuries like sprains and strains, which while they aren’t usually life threatening, are painful and take a while to heal.

Having restrictions is key to avoiding serious injuries, especially with concussions.

“Worst case scenario with concussions is second impact syndrome (a rare but often fatal condition), but in general head injuries can cause a variety of problems, both short and long term, ” Orren said.

There is also another part of an athlete’s well-being, mental health. Some student athletes don’t get home until late at night, and the stress from homework and constantly pushing themself to do their best in their sport can take a toll.

“Between prepping for competitions and staying on top of school work, I can get a bit burnt out, even if I know it’ll be worth it in the end,” senior Taylee Klein said.

Overall, there’s a lot that goes into being part of a sport, and while it may seem all go-go-go, remembering to take breaks has the potential to help both their performance and health.