Springtime activities pave the way for injury accidents to take place. Shedding winter blues after a lengthy icy season comes with lots of excitement. It’s in the spring when people start exercising again, taking kids to the park, engaging in multiple sports, gardening, extensive cleaning, repairing, and much more. All these activities pave the way for unwarranted injuries.
Avoiding some of these injuries may mean getting assistance with difficult tasks. Alternatively, one can tackle the tasks in phases. With extra care, most of these springtime injuries can be avoided.
The Most Common Springtime Injuries
The number of people visiting hospitals increases with patients complaining of:
- Lower back pains, painful neck, and spine, usually caused by excessive bending and stretching
- Elbow and wrist pain, which is common for golfers who swing for long hours after a long period or after pulling or lifting heavy weight objects
- Shoulder and knee pain usually triggered by heavy jumping, running too quickly, or throwing too hard
- Cuts, bruises, scalds, bites from bugs, and sunburns.
Spring injuries are usually caused by sudden changes in routines. They include:
Neck and Spine Strains
When the body is not used to excessive pulling and pushing, manual jobs such as mowing and arranging heavy objects necessitate stretching for long hours. This kind of work requires too much bending and can strain the joints and muscles, most specifically the spine and the neck.
Falls
People generally get more active during spring than at any other time of the year. They resume running, riding, golfing, and outdoor gaming, especially in the parks. While the kids may fall off trampolines, the fall is not half as dangerous as when senior adults engage in extreme sports.
Cuts and Bruises
Activities such as gardening and cleaning the gutters for long can cause blisters or cuts. Gardening also exposes one to micro-organisms, while too much sunshine causes sunburns.
Sports Injuries
Head injuries are common with soccer players. Hitting the ball with the head, falling, or hitting another player are the leading causes of sports injuries, a major cause of concussions.
Car and Bicycle Accidents
While running errands on a bicycle reduces the amount of time spent in traffic, drivers and riders sometimes fail to take precautions. A bicycle accident is most common to occur in intersections and busy highways.
How to Avoid Springtime Injuries
Warming Up
Activities such as stretching and walking briefly before handling tedious tasks allow the muscles to loosen and accelerate blood flow. One can start with minor tasks and work gradually towards heavier tasks. Working in short intervals also avoids stressing joints.
Using Protective Gear and Sunscreen
Wearing clothes that cover the whole body, such as aprons, prevents bug bites. The body is also protected from plant cuts. The use of gloves also prevents the formation of blisters, while sunscreen protects the uncovered body parts from sunburns.
Using the Right Tools
Well-sharpened tools that fit the grip ideally minimize chances of self-injury. Using a stable ladder while cleaning high above the floor minimizes fall-related injuries.
Finally, spring work can be delegated. One can hire a professional with all the tools and experience to handle tasks that may be too demanding to avoid such injuries.
