Don’t Succumb to Overuse Injuries this Summer, Says Trinity Health Orthopedic Surgeon

The summer months are fast approaching, which means Michigan residents who have been cooped up inside all winter will soon head outdoors to enjoy the weather.

If you are one of the many people that haven’t done many – or any – outdoor activities since last summer, you may be itching to get outside to get active. Regardless of your activity, I highly encourage you ease into it and don’t attack the activity too hard right off the bat.

It takes your muscles time to adjust, especially if you haven’t used them over a long period of time. If you attempt to go too hard too quickly, you could injury yourself by overusing that muscle. For that reason, these injuries are called “overuse injuries.”

Overuse injuries occur when body tissue is damaged due to repeating a motion your body isn’t used to. For example, if you are throwing a baseball at a high speed for the first time in over a year, odds are your arm is going to get sore. If that develops and you continue to throw the ball at a high rate of speed consecutive days in a row without rest, you very well could sustain an overuse injury.

These injuries are easily avoidable as long as you plan ahead. Some of the best strategies include gradually increasing your activity over time, minimizing errors in your training – such as bad technique – and allowing your body proper time to heal.

So, whether you are riding a bicycle, going for a jog, playing a sport or anything in between, I urge you to take your time warming up and ease into your favorite summertime activities.

And if you ever need medical attention for an overuse injury, or any type of orthopedic injury, myself and other experts from Trinity Health IHA Medical Group are here to treat you with the highest quality of care possible. You can find us at trinityhealthmi.org/ortho.

Kristopher Aalderink, MD, is board-certified orthopedic surgeon with Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Orthopaedics - Schoolcraft Campus.