"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.