Preventing sports injuries is a lot easier than healing one after it has already happened. Sadly, most people think they are too tough, too young, too fast or just too lucky to get any kind of sports injury. The truth is, the best athletes in the world get sports injuries, and the best coaches in the world will not let their athletes step foot into a game without stretching and properly preparing. It is very important to make sure you warm up and cool down to prevent sports injuries.

The body secretes fluids and chemicals that makes the muscles more elastic and flexible when the tissue is heated. Stretches will prevent your joints and ligaments form becoming stiff, which often results in tears and sprains. After stretching light exercise will heat the muscle tissue causing it to be more limber and elastic. This is because the heart rate causes the metabolic rate to increase, which in turn brings blood and oxygen to the muscles and the rest of the body. Once the body is warmed the mind will soon follow and your in game decisions will be much better.

After the game you can then focus on cooling down, which basically keeps you form suddenly stopping. Any time your body suddenly stops rough physical activity your muscles are susceptible to cramps. Throughout history the human body has been conditioned to speed up and slow down naturally throughout the day, whether it be for hunting, or sheer survival. Our bodies are not design to perform rough physical activities suddenly without warming up and cooling down.