The summer months are notorious for personal injuries but by taking a few preventative measures you can make it much less likely to encounter an accident. Raccoon Valley Radio spoke with 21st Century Rehab physical therapist Clint Lutterman and he said that the injuries he most sees this time of year are “General strains, muscle injuries, people are complaining of cramping and stuff like that in the summer and a lot of times hydration is an issue.” Lutterman noted that keeping well hydrated is important before and after physical activities, not just during.
Lutterman said that most summer injuries they see at the hospital aren’t athletic injuries, but often injuries adults encounter when they are doing something they haven’t done in some time. “I think in the summer maybe you’ve got a lot of yard work to do and a lot of work outside,” Lutterman reasoned, “and you’re trying to fix things up in the summer and so you see some of those things where you get sprains and overuse injuries from things that they’re not used to doing year round.”
As fall sports practices fast approach, many think of the old school gridiron practice mentalities; that water and rest are signs of weakness and that pain builds character. Lutterman says that things are vastly different than they used to be when it comes to high school football practices. “I think hydration has been really looked at and coaches realize the importance of it now. Giving kids those breaks to get water and then talking to them about in between practices you need to take care of yourself, you need to rest, you need to get the hydration, you need to eat right.”Lutterman was quick to point out that getting enough rest is not just a problem that plagues youth, and that most adults don’t get as much rest as they should either.
Lutterman works out of 21st Century Rehab, which is located at the north end of the Dallas County Hospital.