Health tips for high-school athletes

“When participating in sports-related activities, young athletes can get excited and overexert themselves. It’s a good idea to give them advice on how to protect their health,” says Stephen Tabor, DO, a board-certified physician specializing in Sports Medicine at Kelsey-Seybold.

To help protect athletes’ health, Dr. Tabor advises:

• Stretching: Gradually warm up and stretch prior to the main activity.
• Wearing protective gear: Elbow, knee, and shin guards, and, in some cases, ankle braces help prevent some common injuries.
• Getting adequate rest: Teen athletes juggle school with their extracurricular sports activities and need the proper amount of rest. They may be more prone to injury when tired.
• Staying hydrated: Before feeling thirsty, drink water or sports drinks to help replace electrolytes.
• Using sunscreen: Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
• Paying attention to pain: Young athletes must learn their limits – and when to stop their participation.

“Persistent pain may be a warning sign of an injury and indicate a need to be examined by a doctor,” advises Dr. Tabor, who has worked closely with and provided medical coverage for several Houston-area high schools and has been appointed to the concussion committee for multiple school districts.