HealthOnTrack

You needn’t be an aspiring sports star or fitness fanatic to enjoy an active lifestyle; recreational sport is a great way of keeping your body and mind healthy. However, it’s essential to follow sports safety guidelines to save yourself the inconvenience of a nasty sports injury that could put you out of action for weeks!

Just as you would wear Scruffs work trousers to protect yourself against work-related injuries, you will need to find the right sports safety gear to see that you enjoy your favourite recreational sports in comfort and safety. Here are some useful safety tips for sports fans:

Stretch
To fully enjoy sports without straining yourself, it’s best to warm up and cool down with some stretching exercises. This will help to prevent muscle strains and spasms.

Use your Head
Sports like biking or skating require safety helmets, and it’s essential to choose the right helmet to suit you and your preferred sport. Select a helmet that fits comfortably and snugly, without tilting backwards or forwards.

Safety in Sight
There’s nothing quite like action-packed contact sports to get the adrenaline pumping, but the more extreme the game, the higher the risk of injury. When playing sports like rugby, cricket, ice hockey or softball, it’s essential to protect the safety of your eyes with equipment like a face guard. Racquet sports, snow sports and water sports require safety goggles.

Eye safety gear should fit securely but comfortably, with padding over the nose and eyebrow area. If you wear glasses, you may need prescription sports goggles.

Watch your Mouth
Mouthguards should be worn to play sports whenever there is a risk of head injury; you can find mouth safety guards at sports equipment stores or have one fitted by a dentist.

Best Foot Forward
When you kick off your Scruffs safety boots and head off to the sports field, make sure you’re wearing the right footwear; your shoes should fit well, be comfortable and provide adequate support for your arches.

Know Your Limits
If you’ve been injured, play it safe and wait until you’ve recovered fully before getting back on the pitch. Pushing yourself too far too soon can lead to a more serious sports injury. After an injury, ease back into your sports routine with some gentle exercise.

Follow these sports safety tips and you’ll find you can perform at your peak with complete confidence.