Prepping for Athletic Participation in Cold Weather
As the seasons change, we have to be aware of how we prepare our bodies for those changes. Those that participate in outdoor sports in the fall and spring are always keeping this in mind. Read the article and let me know what you have learned. What are the signs of hypothermia? Can you still get dehydrated when it is cold?
Prepping for Cold Weather as an Athlete
This blog is due Monday, April 2 at 11:59 PM. Please make sure to follow the guidelines for the assignment as stated in the syllabus.
Exercising in the cold can have major effects on the body and some of these effects can be dangerous or life threatening. Many people don’t realize that cold weather can cause so many problems and that is why it is so important to know these effects that it plays on your body. One of the most important things when exercising in the cold is to stay warm! If you let your muscles get cold there is a higher chance of spraining or pulling something causing unwanted injuries. Not only is staying warm important for you muscles, but for the body in general. Hypothermia is a problem that many people overlook and think that it could never happen to them, but it is a major concern when it comes to being out in cold weather. By knowing these warning signs some lives could be saved such as, shivering, low energy, slow, shallow breathing, slurred speech and mumbling, weak pulse and many more signs. We can help prevent this by layering up and trying to keep our body temperature as close to the normal range of 98.6 as possible. Another major concern for athletes that many people don’t realize is a problem is hydration. People, like me, often think this is only a problem in the summer because you don’t sweat very much when it is cold out, but it is just the opposite. The air is extremely dry during the colder months and that means that our lungs have to work even harder to humidify the air, using up more of the water in our bodies than normal. Carrying a water bottle at all times is a good way to avoid dehydration, not just in the summer, but year round.
ReplyDeleteThe change in temperature, particularly the cold, poses huge challenges to athletes and their health. If athletes are not aware of the necessary precautions they have to take, they could suffer major injuries or even death. In a colder environment, athletes, even those whose athletic event takes place indoors, should wear many layers of clothing in order to keep the muscles warm to prevent tearing or straining. Also when done with activity the layers should be reapplied before going back outside, this allows the muscles to cool down more gradually rather than a sudden drop in temperature. Despite popular beliefs, it is still possible to get dehydrated while in a colder climate. Colder climates mean dryer air and the body has to work harder to hydrate it. Athletes should compensate for this by drinking just as much water as they would if they were participating in a summer sport. Another danger of sports in the cold is hypothermia. Hypothermia symptoms begin with shivering then more resemble the signs of a concussion, lack of coordination, slurring speech, fainting. Coaches have to be extra aware of these symptoms in their athletes and contact an AT if those symptoms are present in any athlete to avoid further complications.
ReplyDeleteAthletes like myself and many others, have sporting events during this weather and other times of year in Ohio that can be cold and cause drastic change your health. If you aren't careful some of these conditions can cause serious injury or even death. A basic thing to instruct athletes with in cold condition is to do some light conditioning or active to loose and warm up the muscles before stretching. In the cold someone could more easily pull or strain muscles in these conditions. Plyometric stretching is much more common in the cold for athletes to stay moving rather than stationary, static stretches to start a practice or event. PLayers should never be too safe when it comes to layering outfits and clothes to stay warm. The big drop in body temperature can occur if you don't be careful and regulating body temperature even after an indoor event can be helpful. Having a warm torso helps keep the extremities warmer as well in cold conditions; and gloves can be very helpful to keep the feeling and circulation in your hands in the cold. A dangerous thing is some athletes may believe just because they are sweating less means they don't need water during the colder weather, this is false! All athletes should stay hydrated before an event by carrying a water bottle with them throughout the day and drink after the practice/event as well. The colder air is more difficult or the lungs to humidify and warm the body that is why warm conditions are safer for athletes and hydration is key in cold condition to prevent hypothermia. Shivering is actually the first sign of hypothermia along with slurred speak lack of coordination and slowed breathing.Some symptoms are even close to concussion sign such as lack of awareness, confusion, short term memory loss, and lack of consciousness. To help prevent hypothermia and to stay warm is to always stay moving, active and simply jogging in place or stretching on the sideline can be key for winter sport and cold weather athletes.
ReplyDeleteThe cold weather has an impact on every sport in some way or another. If the sport is played outside, athletes have to deal with playing in the cold weather. If the sport is played inside, athletes have to deal with the cold temperatures outside when going and leaving from games or practices. Stretching, plays a big role with athletes and the cold weather. Before going right into stretching, light activities are recommended so athletes do not pull muscles. Dynamic stretching is better to warm up with, while static stretching is better to cool down with. It is also important to wear plenty of layers of clothes in the cold. Whether you are going to practice, leaving practice or playing in the cold, it is important to have plenty of layers on to keep your muscles warm and to not get sick. There is also a greater chance of dehydration in the cold, rather than in warmer weather. It is important to have water bottles with you and if possible to rehydrate with room temperature water. Warmer and room temperature water is better at keeping your internal body temperature optimal. Hyperthermia also plays a big factor in colder weather. Hyperthermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can reproduce it. Shivering is one of the first signs of hyperthermia, while slurred speech, shallow breathing, weak pulse and loss of consciousness are other signs. Athletes playing in the cold weather should also keep their muscles moving constantly. Muscles can stiffen and cool down while not moving or sitting on the bench. Bench players especially, should continue to move and stretch. During outdoor cold practices, it is also important for the players to continue to move and not be standing around for long periods of time. Many factors play an important role to keeping athletes safe and preventing them from getting injured while playing and being outside in cold temperatures.
ReplyDeleteAthletes who play sports need to have a warm up activity for the muscles before they stretch especially in cold weather. When it is cold muscles are more tight and stretching before your muscles are warmed up you can pull or strain a muscle. Staying hydrated in cold weather is just as important as staying hydrated in warm weather. In the cold the lungs have to work harder to humidify the cold air and when the body works harder you need more water. Along with that playing in the cold can be very dangerous. Hypothermia is a medical emergency that occurs when someone’s body loses heat faster than it can produce it. This causes dangerously low body temperatures. Knowing the signs of hyperthermia is very important for a coach to learn. Some of the first symptoms an athlete can start to have are slurred speech or mumbling, slow shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness or lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss, or loss of conscious. Some way to prevent hypothermia are layer up with clothes, wear gloves, have a very good warm up, and if player are not playing or subbing out they should do some type of activity to keep warm.
ReplyDeleteHypothermia is an emergency which occurs when one's body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Hypothermia occurs when an individuals body temperature drops below 95 degrees. Shivering is the first sign to occur when one gets hypothermia. Hypothermia has many similar signs to a concussion. These signs consist of memory loss, confusion, low energy, shallow breathing, and a weak pulse. Although one may not sweat profusely, you can still become dehydrated while being cold. The body must work harder to breathe in different weather conditions, which requires more water. Being a former track runner, all of the information I read was mostly common sense. Since track has all different weather conditions all of the listed tips and techniques were vital to remaining healthy and injury free. To start each practice warm up laps were vital. After the warm up laps we would engage in stretching and dynamics as the article listed. Following the workout, we would run cool down laps along with a little more stretching. I believe these steps were key to never being an injured athlete throughout my six years of running. A fact I learned which I did not know was that concussions and hypothermia are very similar. That was shocking to know, because I felt as if hypothermia would be distinguished by the color as texture of skin. Overall, this article really emphasized how important keeping an athletes body warm and hydrated really is to remain healthy and injury free.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the article the symptoms of hypothermia include, but are not limited to, slurred speech or mumbling, slow or shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness or lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss, and finally loss of consciousness. Hypothermia is a real danger for athletes that compete in cold conditions because if hypothermia is not caught fast enough you may have to get toes or fingers amputated if it gets to an extreme point. The cold weather can be a danger because you can still get dehydrated in the cold weather. Your body may feel like it is not using the same amount of water that you notice in the warmer months, but you may be using more water. Since the body has to work harder to humidify the air you need to hydrate even more than normal if you are competing outdoors when it is cold. When competing outdoors and in the cold weather stretching and doing dynamic warm ups are very important. Keeping your muscles warm should be on the minds of all athletes and coaches. Athletes should also remember to layer their clothing when practicing outside or traveling too or from meets or games. By layering their clothes they will be warmer overall, and if they happen to get too cold they can shed a layer while still staying relatively warm.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to outdoor sports, playing in the cold weather can be a struggle sometimes. What's dangerous about playing in cold weather is the effects that chilly temperatures can have on athlete's body. The article talks about hypothermia and the symptoms that it includes, such as slurred speech or mumbling, slow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness, low or lack of energy, memory loss, and loss of consciousness. There are 5 easy ways to get athlete's ready for the cold weather, such as stress stretching, live for layers, help with hydration, hypersensitivity to hypothermia, and move muscles. Cold weather can be dangerous because you can pull muscles and your body can still get dehydrated during the cold. Layers are very important during the colder months as well. Most athletes think that since they do not sweat as much in the winter that hydration is not important, but thats not correct. The likelihood of dehydration is actually greater when you train or play in cold weather. This is because the air you breathe is drier and your lungs have to work harder to humidify air. I also learned from this article that a lot of these symptoms of hypothermia are very similar to other sports related injuries like concussions. The final tip giving in the article was to move your muscles. This is extremely important, even with a good warm up most players can stiffen up and their muscles can cool down when they sit on the bench. Make sure to keep on moving even when you don't have too. Overall, this article emphasized how important it is to keep athletes body's warm and hydrated during season to remain healthy and injury free, and gave excellent tips on how to do those things.
ReplyDeleteThere are many things coaches should have their athletes do when playing in cold weather. The most obvious should be layering on clothes before heading out. A warm torso will keep arms and legs warmer during play. It is also important to put layers on before leaving the gym even though the chilly air may feel good when you’re sweating, it could cause muscles to cool off too quickly. It is important to properly warm up prior to play. Start with a light jog to get your muscles moving then go into a dynamic stretch. Dynamic stretching is preferred because it keeps the blood moving while loosening the muscles. After practice finish with static stretching to cool down, slow heart rates, and avoid unwanted injuries. During a game, bench players should maintain active with jogging and stretching throughout it to keep muscles warm. Dehydration is a much greater risk when it is cold because athletes don't feel the need to get a drink as often. Aso, the dry air forces the lungs to work harder to humidify the air you’re breathing in. Room temperature water is absorbed quicker into the body while electrolytes and carbs should be utilized to rehydrate. Hypothermia comes into play when the body loses heat faster than it can be produced and the temperature drops lower than 95 degrees fahrenheit. Warning signs to look for include shivering, slurred speech or mumbling, slow shallow breathing, weak pulse, lack of coordination, low energy, confusion, memory loss, and loss of consciousness. As an athlete it is important to remember these tips, especially when in a spring sport with unpredictable weather.
ReplyDeleteExercising and playing sports is something that no one looks forward to doing because it is so uncomfortable with with that uncomfort it can also be dangerous and cause a lot of risks to play in the cold weather, even for athletes that play in a gym. One of the dangerous of playing in the cold is hypothermia, which starts when the temperature goes to just 95 degrees or less which is only 3.6 degrees colder then what our normal body temperature is. The signs of hypothermia are shivering, slurred speech, shallow breathing, weak pulse, lack of coordination, low energy, confusion, and loss of consciousness. Some ways to prevent this from happening is layering for the players who play outside, and for the ones that play in a gym to for going and leaving the gym, also the athletes have to keep moving even when being on the bench. Another bigger risk when it is cold is pulling muscles and getting injured because your muscles cool down quicker and are more restricted because of the cold. Some way to prevent this is stress stretching which is doing a light activity before stretching and to do dynamic stretching which is moving while stretching because this keeps your heart rate up, and keeps you warmer. Another worry for playing in cold weather is become dehydrated, which a lot of athletes don't think can happen in the cold because they are not sweating very much, but is actually more likely because the air is drier which makes the lungs worker harder to humidify it. A tip for this is to have the player drink warm temperature water instead of cold water because it is better for keeping your body at an optimal temperature.
ReplyDeleteAvoiding the cold weather for outdoor sports is nearly impossible, but when dealing with unfavorable weather conditions it's best to prepare for everything. To prevent injury in the cold weather coaches recommend doing light warm up activities, like walking or jogging before stretching, and then followed by dynamic stretching. Controlling your body temperature is one of the most important things an athlete can do when dealing with cold weather, one way they can do that is by wearing layers. Wearing layers can let the athlete control how warm or cold they are, and layers don't just involve outdoor sports. For indoor sports like basketball, players should layer up before and after the gym. If they leave the gym in shorts or without a sweatshirt, it could cause the muscles to cool down too fast. The chances of dehydration is much higher during colder weather, because your lungs are breathing in colder, drier air and your lungs have to work harder to humidify that air. The more work your body is doing the more water it needs. Hypothermia is a process that occurs when the body is losing heat faster than it is producing it. The body is a complex system, with a little bit more than 3 degrees below the average, normal body temperature can cause the body to shut down and have the risk of hypothermia. It's important for a coach, as well as other athletes to the know the warning signs of hypothermia. One of the first signs is shivering, but it can also include weak pulse, low energy, and even shallow breathing. It's important to keep your body moving during moments of undesirable weather for sports, keeping your muscles warm prevents injury, and can just help keep your mind off the cold weather.
ReplyDeleteUnless you live in southern states it is almost impossible to avoid playing in cold weather. When dealing with colder weather conditions it is crucial to prepare your athlete for playing in cold weather. To prevent injuries coaches need to know how to prepare their athletes to play in the cold. It is important to make sure the athletes' muscles are warm and loose. Stretching is a vital part to prevention of injuries. The athletes should do a light warm up like jogging or walking before a doing a dynamic stretch. This allows the athletes' muscles to warm up. Another way is to to emphasize layers. This will allow the athletes bodies to retain heat. Layers help the body regulate heat through ventilation. The next important thing to consider is hydration. In colder weather the athletes might not sweat as much, but this does not mean that their bodies are not working hard. In colder conditions the air is colder so the lungs have to work harder to warm the air. Coaches should recognize signs of dehydration and make sure they give time for the athletes to get a drink of water. Hypothermia is also important to take into consideration. The athletes are working hard and sweating making them loose precious body heat. Coaches should see the signs and be able to call a athletic trainer over. The final thing is to keep athletes warm and loose. In practice there should be little time where the athletes are standing around. In game for the players on the bench or breaks in play the athletes should still be loose. It is important for coaches to know these tips and prepare their athletes for colder weather. These will help the athletes avoid injuries and help the coaches get the best out of their athletes.
ReplyDeletePlaying in the cold weather could be a huge burden to you and the people around you. Nobody ever really likes to play in cold weather cause its just a ware and tear on your body. You have to make sure that you wear a ton of layers because that will help you tremendously in the long run. You actually get more dehydrated in colder weather because of the thin and dry air. Its harder to hyrdate yourself when its colder. Coaches have a really hard job making sure nobody gets seriusly injured in cold games. Stretching is a huge deal when it comes down to that. Your muscles are very fragile things and should be cared for very well especially when its colder weather. Stretching needs to be taken very seriously when it comes down to this or it could lead to a very bad injury. I know that injuries can happen anytime but it is a greater cause when it is cold out. Coaches need to read in on how to control their team when its cold and it could help out many injuries in younger ages of kids.
ReplyDeleteBeing an athlete fighting the weather can be very difficult sometimes. As this article states athletes have to battle the weather as it is constantly changing and it is not always great for the body to handle. This article goes over 5 ways coaches and athletic trainers can prepare for the weather. The first thing they stress is stretching. In cold weather you want to do a light exercise before stretching because stretching a cold muscle can lead to a strain or pull, although in warm weather you can go straight to stretching. Include a dynamic stretch and end it with a cooldown. Coaches should make sure their athletes prepare for the cold weather by wearing many layers. Wearing layers can regulate your body temperature. For indoor sports make sure they layer up before they leave the gym. Next you should always keep up with hydration. I learned that you can still get dehydrated while it is cold out and it is actually more likely to get dehydrated in the cooler months. Next you want to make sure none of your athletes get hypothermia. I learned the regular body temperature is 98.6 degrees fahrenheit, and hypothermia occurs at 95 degrees. Signs of hypothermia include slurred speech or mumbling, slow, shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness or lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss, loss of consciousness. Lastly you want to keep your athletes moving. Players can stiffen up while they sit on the bench so it is important for them to continue to move.
ReplyDeleteThe best way to prepare for any cold weather game is to dress for the occasion, layering effectively is the key to staying warm on a chilly day. Now when playing on a cold day muscles tend to stay tighter and standing around helps stiffen those muscles, continuing to stretch and moving around during breaks is the best way to stay loose and avoid pulling any muscles. Also, jogging in between innings or between quarters is a great way to stay loose and to stay ready when it’s time to play again. Even though it’s cold out and you are not sweating as much you still need to stay hydrated throughout the game or practice. With cold weather, comes dry air and that makes your lungs work harder which means your body still requires water because your body is working hard. A good tip is to come to your sporting event hydrated so the risk of becoming dehydrated during the game is much lower. Finally, with cold weather hypothermia is a key concern to an athlete’s body. This generally happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, which is why layering is so important during the cold months of the season. Coaches and ATs should keep out for signs of slurred speech, shallow breathing, weak pulse, lack of coordination, low energy, memory loss, and loss of consciousness during a cold day.
ReplyDeleteThere are many different ways to stay warm when playing a sport during colder climates. One thing that the article mentioned in the passage was stress stretching. Stress stretching is when athletes start off the practice or game with a light jog then going into dynamic stretching not static stretching. Doing this will loosen up the athletes muscles which will reduced pulls and strains. Also it will keep their blood flowing allowing them to stay warm during the cold temperatures. Next in the article I learned that wearing layers are crucial when the temperature gets cold. Even if the sport is inside it's important to have the athletes dress for the weather when walking to and from the gym. A big tip in helping athletes stay healthy when the weather is cold is keeping them hydrated. It's actually a lot easier for athletes to get dehydrated in cold temperatures because of how dry the air is which makes it harder on their lungs. Carrying around water before practice or a game can help out a lot. Also it was said in the article that it's important to rehydrate after a practice or game with electrolytes and carbohydrates. Another thing that I learned while reading this article was always get your athletes moving when the temperatures are cold. Lastly comes hypothermia which is a direct call to the emergency room if not recognized soon enough. Some signs that can be noticed are slurred speech or mumbling, slow or shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness or lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss and lastly loss of consciousness. Following these ways of keeping the athletes warm can help decrease the chances of getting hypothermia.
ReplyDeleteThe best ways for preparing for the cold weather as an athlete is wear many layers, stay stretched and hydrated, because you can get dehydrated in the cold weather because the harder that the body works the more water it requires and its best to drink room temperature water to keep the internal body temperature up. this article also talks about how in the cold weather that pulls and strains are more likely to happen. The article mentions how before stretching the coach should have the team do a small activity so that their muscles are warmed up before stretching. Hypothermia is when the body loses heat faster than it can produce, the signs for hypothermia are: slurred speech or mumbling, slow, shallow breathing, weak pulse, lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss, loss of consciousness when these symptoms are noticed get the athletic trainer involved ASAP. wearing layers when playing or practicing in cold conditions is key to help from not getting sick, having a warm torso while playing is one of the main body parts to keep warm because it keeps the rest of the body warm too. athletes should also wear layers when sitting on the bench. athletes that play indoor sports should also layer up before leaving their house and after their event to prevent them from getting sick. also keeping your muscles moving all the time whether its on the field or on the bench to keep your muscles from getting tight
ReplyDeleteThere are some easy ways to help the athlete’s cold weather ready and making sure they are warm and comfortable during games and practices. The first way to do this is stress stretching. Stress stretching is important because in the cold weather your muscles become very tight and if you do not stretch you may end up pulling or straining the muscle. This stretching should be dynamic not static because it helps keep the athletes’ blood flowing while they also loosen their muscles. Even after the games you should do a cool down so they can slow their heart rates. The next tip is to layer up. Layers let the athletes control their temperature during a game. The next tip is to not forget to stay hydrated. You can help encourage the athletes to carry a water bottle around to classes so they do not forget to drink water. Another way to help athletes in the cold weather is by knowing what hypothermia is and how to stop it. Some symptoms of hypothermia are slurred speech, weak pulse, low energy, confusion, and loss of consciousness. If an athlete is experiencing this we need to stop their play and contact a physician. And lastly, the final tip is to be prepared and make sure they are moving their muscles. Between quarters they need to stay moving and do not sit down. This is also important in practices. Overall this article explains how coaches can help with making sure the athletes stay warm and comfortable and I believe that more and more coaches need to pay attention to this.
ReplyDeleteI learned that when you are playing in cold weather you need to make sure that you get your muscles warm before you start to try to stretch so that there isn’t a possibility of pulling or straining a muscle because when it’s cold out your muscles constrict to try to stay warm. There are benefits to athletes staying warm on the bench by doing stretches before they go on the field to reheat and loosen those muscles that probably just tightened back up after sitting for a while. Layers can help to keep your body warm and are ideal for sports so that there is less possibility to pull or strain a muscle. Also, when you start to get warm then you can take to layers off in order to not overheat. This is helpful for players coming off the field to try to keep warm on the bench so that your body can use the heat from exerting energy on the field. Surprisingly to me something that athletes should pay attention to the colder season is to stay hydrated. Athletes can be dehydrated. In the colder weather there is less sweating, but your lungs have to work harder to put humidity in the cold dry air that is rushing into the body and that causes dehydration. Hypothermia is also another concern doing the colder weather. Some of the signs of hyperthermia are first shivering showing that your body is struggling to stay warm, slurred speech or mumbling, shallow slow breathes, clumsiness and or lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss and, loss of consciousness. Basically, caused by your body trying to heat up but it can’t keep up with how much heat it is losing so your body shuts down. These are reasons why cold weather and sports can be dangerous.
ReplyDeleteFall and spring athletes both have to deal with cold weather at some point during their season. A combination of cold weather and hot gyms can be problematic for athletes. The cold weather can be a problem for an athletes body. However, there are helpful tips to ensure an athletes safety in the colder months, so they can have a successful season. The first tip is to have athletes do light activity before stretching because stressing a cold muscle can result in pulling it. Also, make sure the athlete cools down after activities. The next tip is to make sure that athletes wear plenty of layers. The next tip is to stay hydrated because a person is actually more likely to become dehydrated in the cooler months than the warmer months. The next tip is to watch out for hypothermia which is where a person loses heat faster than they can produce it. Shivering is the first sign of hypothermia which is followed by slurred speech, slow and shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness, low energy, confusion, or unconsciousness. All of these tips are very important for coaches to recognize as colder weather approaches, so athletes can play their hardest while being healthy.
ReplyDeleteThis article teaches us five ways to get athletes prepared for the cold weather during the outdoor seasons. The cold can leave many bad effects on an athlete’s body if athletes do not take the correct precautions during the cold winter sports. The first thing that athletes should do when dealing with cold weather is to remember to always stretch. Coaches should have their athletes start with light activity before stretching because stretching with a cold muscle can lead to pulling or straining a muscle because they are tight. Next is remember to layer up as needed for the cold weather. I learned that layers are very important during the cold seasons and even for indoor because layers let’s athletes control their temperature by regulating it with ventilation. Layers should also be kept on while sitting out to keep muscles warm to prevent from injuries. A third tip is remembering to stay hydrated during practice. It is easy to forget about hydrating during the cooler months because some athletes do not sweat as much. In any weather, the harder a body works, the more water it requires. The fourth tip is to watch for hypothermia because the risk of getting it during cold temperatures increases. The normal body temperature is around 98.6F but hypothermia occurs when body temperatures fall below 95 f. Knowing the warning signs is a coach’s big job to keep a look out for. Shivering is the first sign of hypothermia, other signs include slurred speech, slow, shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness, low energy, confusion or memory loss, and loss of consciousness. Last but not least players should always be moving their muscles. Players can stiffen up and their muscles can cool down when they sit on a bench as subs, during halftimes, and during any other stoppage time. Players and coaches need to make sure that they do frequent jobs or stretches while standing or waiting.
ReplyDeleteCold weather is one of the biggest issues in outdoor sports during the colder months. Cold weather causes tight muscles, tight muscles can cause injuries and injuries can take an athlete out for an extended period of time. Cold weather doesn’t only affect performance, but it can also hurt the body as well such as causing hypothermia. One of the most important things to do while in the cold weather is to stretch weather it be static stretching or dynamic stretching. However, having a light amount of exercise before stretching shows the best results amongst all of them. Also, after the workout or race, it is necessary to do a cooldown as well. This is important for both the heart and muscles. This helps in the prevention of unwanted injuries. Another important thing to do is to stay warm by dressing in layers. This helps in regulating the core body temperature and keeps the ventilation flowing as well. One of the most important things to do as an athlete no matter what is to stay hydrated, even in the cold. Although staying hydrated in the summer is easier than in the winter because you sweat more in the summer, being hydrated is very important for athletes to keep the body working healthily. Keeping warmed up is also very important for all athletes.
ReplyDeleteStretching is a big component when preparing for outdoor sports in the cold weather. However, athletes should start with a light activity before they begin stretching. And when they do begin to stretch, it should be dynamic stretching. Just jumping into stretching immediately can pull a muscle because they will be so tight. Athletes should layer up to control their temperature by regulating it with ventilation. It’s important to keep your torso warm in cold weather because that can help your extremities stay warmer. You can still get dehydrated when you're cold. There is actually a greater chance of dehydration in the cold because the air is dryer and the lungs have to work harder to humidify that air. Therefore, it's important to stay hydrated in the cold weather even though the athlete may feel like he or she doesn't need it because they are not sweating as much. Athletes should also rehydrate with room temperature water because its better at keeping internal temperatures optimal. Hypothermia can be a result of very cold temperatures. Some signs include shivering, mumblong, shallow breathing, weak pulse, clumsiness, low energy, memory loss, and loss of consciousness. Playing outside for long periods of time can increase the risk of hypothermia so it is important for coaches to know the signs. Athletes should also always be moving their muscles in the cold weather. Muscles can stiffen up with no movement in the cold so it is important to keep the adrenaline up and the muscles moving to stay warm.
ReplyDeleteAs an athlete, I understand the importance of staying warm during practices and games. It can be hard for both the athletes and the coaches to give full effort during the cold season. There are ways to help try and better the situation, this article reinforces some obvious tactics, but also sheds light on some that I would not even think about. One that pretty much everybody knows is wearing layers. If your sport is taking place outside during a cold day, you should try and wear many layers. The article talks about keeping your torso warm which will then keep your extremities warm. One thing that I thought was interesting, was the section on stretching. I never knew that if you start with stretching in cold temperatures, that you could end up pulling or straining your muscles. Instead, athletes should start with a light activity and then a dynamic warm up. One thing we do on the Heidelberg Tennis team is starting with laps around the courts. I did not even realize that this was helping with keeping our muscles safe. It seems to always be cold in the spring in Ohio, so running laps then doing a dynamic warm up is the perfect way to start off practice. If we just started with static stretching, then that could put our muscles at risk. I am not sure if our coaches do this on purpose, but after reading this article, I know it is the best thing to do. Another topic that the article talks about is hydration. I understand why a lot of people think that you might not have to stay as hydrated as on a warm day, but it is very important to drink water. Your body is still working the same way as if it were hot, you might just not be sweating as much. Staying hydrated will keep the athletes healthy, which, in my opinion, is the most important thing.
ReplyDeleteCollege athletes that partake in sports during the spring and fall have many different cold weather factors that they as well as athletic trainers must keep in mind. During these colder times of the year weather can have many negative diverse effects on their bodies if they aren’t aware of ways to adapt to these conditions. One of the effects of cold weather that athletes may not be aware of is dehydration, athletes are at a higher risk of dehydration while participating in sports event in cold conditions because the air athletes breathe is dry causing the lungs to work harder to warm and humidify the air they breathe. The harder your body must work the more water it requires so making sure they stay hydrated is important. Another thing athletes must keep in mind is hypothermia because cold weather also increases the risk of hypothermia in athletes. Cold weather conditions put the body at risk of losing body temperature faster than the body can produce it, the normal body temperature is 98.6 degrees but just dropping three degrees to 95 is enough to start causing symptoms of hypothermia. Signs to look for in athletes you may suspect in having hypothermia is weak pulse, low energy, confusion, clumsiness or lack of coordination as well as slurred speech so keeping an eye on athletes and knowing and understanding these signs in cold weather conditions is key as an athletic trainer.
ReplyDeleteParticipating in athletics during the winter months, or during cold temperatures, can lead to a host of problems for athletes. There are many simple things that coaches, athletes, and athletic trainers can suggest/implement to ensure that the athletes' bodies are ready to perform. Stretching should always be performed before physical activity. When it is colder outside athletes should do some sort of light activity before stretching. Then instead of static stretching, the athletes should do a dynamic warm up. This allows the blood to flow through the muscles while they are being stretched. Colder temperatures can also bring on dehydration. Dehydration is usually connected with warmer weather because athletes sweat more and can see how much water they need to replenish. Dehydration in the winter months is caused by your lungs having to work extra hard to humidify the air because of how dry it is. Encouraging athletes to carry around a water bottle and drink room temperature water can help them combat winter dehydration. With cold weather comes the chance of hypothermia. Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can create heat causing a person's temperature to fall below 95 F. The first sign of hypothermia is shivering. This is the body's way of trying to heat up by causing movement. Other signs/symptoms can be, slurred speech or mumbling, slow shallow breaths, weak pulse, lack of coordination, Low energy, confusion or memory loss, loss of consciousness. As the weather gets colder more risks appear. As a coach, athlete, and/or athletic trainer we need to be aware of and recognize these risks so we can treat, and hopefully prevent them.
ReplyDeleteIn this article I have learned five useful tips that will help to keep you healthy and less prone to injuries when participating in sports in cold weather and for seasonal changes. Most of them have to do with being prepared for the cold practices, game, and travel times. One thing that I learned is that the likeliness of being dehydrated is greater when playing in cold weather because of the air that is being inhaled is drier and the lungs must work harder to humidify that air, and that it is better to drink warm or room temperature. So, you can still get dehydrated when it’s cold. Another thing I learned is that just doing a simple activity before stretching then going into a dynamic stretch, this way it helps keep your athletes’ heart blood flowing and loosening their muscles at the same time. And then the cooldown after participating in your sport is crucial to do, and this is just doing static stretching to slow heart rates down and stretch muscles to prevent injuries. Some signs of hypothermia would be shivering, slurred speech, slow breathing, weak pulse, lack of coordination, low energy, confusion or memory loss, or loss of consciousness.
ReplyDeleteCold weather is not a joke and is something serious. Playing sports in the cold weather can be dangerous and everybody should learn what to do and how to approach cold weather when playing sports. As a athlete, I know when I was playing football sometimes I would not dress appropriate because I thought I would warm up from playing but you are still cold. Some very helpful things to do is stretch and dress warm. If you stretch your muscles and get warm you will not have problems when playing in the cold because if you play in the cold without warming up you could pull a muscle or get seriously hurt. Hypothermia is a serious risk and many people don't realize. Some signs that people should be aware of are shivering, low energy, slow, shallow breathing, slurred speech and mumbling, weak pulse and many more signs. If somebody realized this in game they could save their life or prevent injuries. Another huge problem is when players are not hydrated because they think since its cold out they don't need to drink water but it is very important to stay hydrated when its cold and to also keep you body temperature as close as you can to normal. like i stated before all players should know what they are getting themselves into.
ReplyDeleteEven though the seasons change our bodies need to stay the same. When it comes to the cold weather and our bodies we need to know how to deal with the cold temperatures and know what the safety precautions are for dealing with cold temperatures. We need to bundle up so we don’t go into hypothermia from the cold, Hypothermia happens when you do not take precautions in cold weather and let your body temperature fall below 95 degrees. When your body goes into hypothermia you begin to have slurred speech, you breathing becomes slow and shallow as your body gets colder, your pulse becomes thread or weak, you start to become clumsy or lose your coordination, you start to lose energy and become very weak and tired easily, you get confused and lose your memory, and the last before your body starts to shut down you lose consciousness. Even though it is cold you can still become dehydrated because your body is still using that water to keep your body warm and keep doing the activities you want to do. Cold temperatures are very dangerous when you don’t take the right precautions and know how to dress for the right temperature, you don’t want to go outside in a tank top and shorts when it is 10 degrees out, you will get hypothermia very quickly. Cold weather acts vey quickly so it is best for you to know the signs of hypothermia and make sure you take every precaution you can to help prevent it.
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