It's ironic. Exercise is good for you, but whether it's a hot game of flag football, a round of tennis or a quiet jog on a fall morning, you are at risk of injury.

Experts at Fayette Urgent Care say that you can cut that risk tremendously by taking some simple precautions.

“Accidents cause some sports injuries, but many are caused by poor training practices, lack of conditioning or poor warm-up,” said Dr. Terry Rice, medical director at Fayette Urgent Care.

The top sports injures include knee injuries, muscle soreness, blisters, side stitches (sharp pains under the rib cage), shin splints (pain in the front of the lower leg), and Achilles tendon pain. Most of these injuries can be prevented.

Rice suggests taking these precautions before and during exercise:

• Wear proper shoes with soft, flexible, non-skid soles, and make sure your socks fit well.

• Do warm-up exercises before all activities, not just vigorous exercise.

• Make sure you stretch your calves well to avoid shin splints and stretch the Achilles tendon to avoid injury there.

• Don't overdo it when you exercise.

• Cool down after exercising by spending a few minutes doing the activity at a slower pace.

• Avoid running on hard surfaces, and try to run on flat surfaces rather than on inclines.

• Try not to twist your knees while exercising and land with your knees bent after jumping.

If you do suffer an injury while participating in sports, Rice says to stop exercising immediately. If you have numbness or aren't able to move the injured body part, seek emergency care. If you feel mild to moderate pain or experience swelling, as well as any discoloration of the skin, apply RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation), and visit your doctor for a thorough examination.

“Many times people think their sports injury is minor and don't bother to se a doctor, but, left untreated, these injuries may lead to a more serious problem in the future,” said Rice.

Most often, people ignore sprains or strains. They happen when you overstretch or tear a tissue between muscles and bones. They usually swell and sometimes cause a discoloration of the skin. Without proper treatment, they can lead to weakness in the joint, which makes it more likely to be re-injured in the future.

Sports injuries often happen after regular doctor's hours or on the weekends. If you suffer from an injury that does not require emergency care, the physicians at Fayette Urgent Care are available from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week. It is at Ga. Highway 54 at 105 Yorktown Drive in Fayetteville. For information, phone 770-461-6666.

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