Dr. Kevan Ketterling’s Smart Play Sports Tips

Dr. Kevan Ketterling, a sports medicine orthopedic surgeon at FVO, offers these Smart Play Tips:

• Put Your Injury on Ice: Heat merely increases swelling and recovery time. Ice is the best way to prevent additional swelling to a new injury. Apply ice directly to the area for 20 minutes, then off for 60, and so on.
• Don’t Leave Home without It: If you have asthma, treat your inhaler as part of your equipment, and always bring it to practices and games. Athletic trainers and coaches don’t carry inhalers in first aid kits as they’re considered prescription medication.
• Stay Hydrated: Drink plenty of water when playing sports. If your activity lasts longer than an hour, make sure sports drinks are consumed afterwards; when drunk during a competition, the sugar content may cause nausea for some.
• Brace Yourself: Participating while wearing a brace or a cast depends on the sport. Athletes can play football with a padded cast, and a physician’s release note. They can play basketball with an ACL brace if it’s plastic or covered by a soft sleeve, but cannot wear any hard devices from the shoulder to the fingertips.
• Talk to Your Physician: If any injury doesn’t respond to basic first aid measures, or if symptoms worsen over a 24- to 48-hour period, consult your physician. X-rays are recommended for boney tenderness, decreased range of motion, and/or excessive swelling.
• Returning to Play: Return to play only after an injury has had time to heal, so you’re not putting yourself at risk for re-injury. If you’re under the care of a physician, get the official go ahead from your care provider.