Sports Safety Tips for Fall 2020 From BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine

As school districts and athletic leagues resume practices and reopen schools for the fall after COVID-19 closures, the specialty-trained sports medicine doctors at BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine offer guidance for protecting the health and safety of local student-athletes. Safe, specialized bone, joint and muscle care is available in Boulder at 4740 Pearl Parkway, Suite 200, or in Lafayette at 1000 W. South Boulder Road, Suite 218. Athletes or parents and guardians can call (303) 449-2730 to schedule a safe in-office appointment. Telehealth visits are also available for remote bone, joint and muscle care consultation. 

“At BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine, we are committed to keeping student-athletes safe and healthy,” says board-certified sports medicine surgeon and Practice President Dr. Lorri Fulkerson. “To help our local athletic community have a safe transition back to training and competition, my team and I have put together a list of guidelines for student-athletes, parents, guardians and coaches.”

As workouts and practices for fall sports begin, student-athletes should exercise caution to both reduce the risk of viral spread and also reduce the risk of injury by adhering to these guidelines:

  • Your health is the most important thing: Watch your nutrition, keep your water and fluid intake up and do not overtrain. Be sure to keep good hygiene as well. Wash your hands, avoid touching your face, wear face coverings when appropriate and avoid close physical contact with those outside of your household.
  • Get your physical: Many schools/athletic associations make pre-participation physicals a requirement, but it is safer for athletes to get a physical from a trained medical provider even if they are solo training to make sure their conditioning and training is appropriate for them physically.
  • It's not always a race: Regulations for COVID-19 have restricted activity levels for many, and training and skill-building routines and exercise will need to gradually increase in intensity to rebuild endurance and strength. Also, athletes need to pay attention to their pains, aches and other limits. This will help prevent injury as well as illness and immunosuppression. 
  • Follow all COVID-19 protocols: In addition to keeping social and physical distance of six feet as best as possible and respecting the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, players, parents and coaches should also be following any and all state, local, school, league and venue rules and restrictions regarding COVID-19.
  • Stay cool and hydrated: With summer picking up, the risk of heat-related illness is high, especially for those who have remained indoors while following local COVID-19 guidelines. Athletes may need to slowly acclimate themselves to sun and heat and should stretch before activities, stay hydrated and stick primarily to shaded areas.

“As athletics resume, we know it poses a number of risks, including injuries and conditions related to overtraining, slips, falls and other accidents,” says Dr. Fulkerson. “At BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine, we are here for our local athletes, and we stand ready to provide highly specialized treatment and any return-to-play care plans they may need to get back in the game quickly and safely.”

BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine offers safe appointments in their offices in Boulder and Lafayette. Their providers also offer telehealth visits so patients can access remote consultation for bone, joint and muscle problems from the comfort of their home or office. Additionally, through Ortho Same Day Care appointments at their Boulder location, the practice’s providers offer prompt treatment for acute orthopedic injuries Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

To learn more or to schedule an appointment with the sports medicine experts at BoulderCentre for Orthopedics & Spine, please call (303) 449-2730.