Beautiful summer days, clear blue water, and the latest gear at the dock. Ready, set, go! …not quite…Water sport injuries affect even the most avid and experienced individuals. Those who are prone to them the most are people lacking experience and being out of shape.
Before engaging in any type of water activity, it is important to remember key injury prevention steps: 1. Preseason conditioning/ exercise routine, proper warm-up, stretching, hydration and most importantly finding experienced coach/ instructor.
Whether it is swimming, jet skiing, water skiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, paddle boating, surfing or kiting water sports are risky.
THE MOST COMMON WATER SPORTS INJURIES ARE:
Concussion
Causes trauma to the brain which may lead to sound and light sensitivity, may even cause vision loss, confusion, slurred speech, and memory problems.
Wearing protective equipment such as helmet could save your life. It is important to select one geared specifically to your water sport.
Neck and Shoulder injuries
Common across all water sports. They include: Irritation and inflammation in the shoulders, rotator cuff tendonitis or tears, shoulder impingement syndrome, which is a result of pressure on the rotator cuff muscles, Tears in the cartilage around the shoulder socket, neck and low back pain, bicep tendonitis.