Spotting Safety During Tumbling
With many tumbling sports, such as gymnastics and cheerleading, one of the most obvious risks for injury is to the athlete doing the tumbling skill. However there is also a risk for the spotter.
The spotter is usually a coach or teammate who works to make sure tumbling skills are performed safely. For many coaches, the ratio of athletes to coach is such that they can be performing many repetitions of the same movement during a single practice. This can place added stress and increase the risk of injury to the spotter’s shoulder, wrist and low back.
Stretch Rx for Achieving the Splits
Is your goal to learn the splits?
Beyond just improving flexibility, this skill can be useful for athletes in a variety of sports – from gymnasts and cheerleaders to hockey goalies. However, learning to safely perform this movement takes a lot of practice and consistency. See below for recommended stretches and some evidence-based tips for improving your flexibility and achieving this goal.
Ankle Strengthening for Tumbling Athletes
Gymnasts and cheerleaders are two types of athletes whose sports require tumbling. Tumbling can range from cartwheels to more complex flips and twists. Regardless of the difficulty of the tumbling, strong ankles for pushing off and landing are important. Weakness in ankles can result in injury such as an ankle sprain, ankle fracture, or tendinitis in muscles surrounding the ankle.
Best of Luck: Recovering from Injury and Retiring at 29
The sports world was caught off guard last Saturday night when news broke that Indianapolis’ quarterback Andrew Luck was retiring effective immediately from professional football. What made the situation even more interesting was Indianapolis was in the middle of their third preseason game against Chicago when reports of Luck’s retirement surfaced. The 29-year-old signal caller addressed the media after the game citing his health and quality of life as the reasons for his decision to call it quits on his football career.
Best Exercises for Tennis Players
Injury risk is a reality of any sport, and tennis is no different. More than 41 percent of elite tennis players lose time from play and practice due to injuries related to the sport. Adolescent tennis players are at greater risk of injury when there has been a previous injury sustained.5,6 Overall, two-thirds of tennis injuries are caused by overuse.
What is Swimmer’s Shoulder?
Swimming – whether for recreation, for exercise, or as part of an organized team – is well known as a low impact, excellent source of activity. While swimming has many benefits for both cardiovascular health and strengthening of multiple muscle groups, it is not without risks.
Common Hip and Groin Injuries in Hockey
Hip and groin injuries are some of the most common injuries in hockey due to the mechanics of the skating stride and goalie positioning. They are frequently responsible for time lost from play or a decline in performance. In order to minimize the risk of hip and groin injuries, it is important to address hip and core muscle restrictions, imbalances, and stability impairments.
Is Back Pain Common in Cheerleading?
Cheerleading is a common sport in high schools and universities but it is also popular as a competitive all-star sport. These all-star teams are often a variety of ages, they can be co-ed, and the teams practice multiple days per week for competitions. Due to the nature of the sport, cheerleaders are more susceptible to certain injuries, including low back pain.
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