Chapter 2: Safe and Smart Physical Activity

New Vocabulary Words!!! YAY!!!! Heat Index Humidity Hyperthermia Hypothermia PAR-Q Wind Chill Factor Biomechanical Principles Ligament Microtrauma Overuse Side stitch Tendon

Students will be able to: Explain how to prepare yourself for physical activity Explain how the environment affects physical activity Describe some steps for dressing for physical activity in normal environments List and describe some activity related physical injuries List some guidelines for preventing injuries during physical activity Explain how to apply the RICE formula to the treatment of physical injuries Identify different types of risky exercises

It’s important for you to be prepared and to know how to exercise safely in all conditions. First step be medically ready- most young people will not have any problems with this. Experts have developed a seven item questionnaire called the PAR-Q (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire. If you answer “yes” to any of the questions, medical consultation is advised before beginning or continuing a program. If you are going to participate in interscholastic sports a physical exam is mandatory each calendar year. Later in life you should have a graded exercise test, sometimes called and exercise stress test. This is done by a health professional. These tests done on a treadmill help identify people who have a high risk of health problems such as heart attacks.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY READINESS QUESTIONNAIRE (PAR-Q) 1. Has your doctor ever said that you have a heart condition and that you should only perform physical activity recommended by a doctor? 2. Do you feel pain in your chest when you perform physical activity? 3. In the past month, have you had chest pain when you were not performing any physical activity? 4. Do you lose your balance because of dizziness or do you ever lose consciousness? 5. Do you have a bone or joint problem that could be made worse by a change in your physical activity? 6. Is your doctor currently prescribing any medication for your blood pressure or for a heart condition? 7. Do you know of any other reason why you should not engage in physical activity?

Readiness for Extreme Environmental Conditions Eventhough your body is built to adjust to its environment there are certain things you can do when exercising to prevent injury and health problems. Hot, humid weather: These conditions can lead to hyperthermia, or overheating (body temperature rises too high). Exercising in high environmental temperatures especially when the humidity is high can lead to this condition. When you sweat it evaporates cooling the body but when the environmental temperatures are high evaporation is less effective. Begin gradually Drink water Wear proper clothing Rest frequently Avoid extreme heat and humidity Get out of the heat and cool the body if heat related injury occurs. Condition Definition Heat Cramps Muscle cramps caused by exposure to heat and consumption of water Heat Exhaustion Excessive exposure to heat, symptoms paleness, cold clammy skin, profuse sweating, weakness and tiredness, nausea, dizziness, muscle cramps, and possible vomiting or fainting. Body temp. may be normal or slightly above Heatstroke Symptoms high body temperature (possibly as high as 106); hot, dry, flushed skin; rapid pulse; lack of sweating; dizziness or unconsciousness. Serious condition, requires medical attention and can result in death.

Cold, Windy, Wet Weather: can be dangerous causing hypothermia which means excessively low body temperature. Symptoms may include shivering, numbness, drowsiness, muscular weakness, and confusion or disorientation. Extreme cold can also cause frostbite when a person feels no pain, making this condition more dangerous Avoid extreme cold and wind. Always consider the windchill factor. Dress properly Avoid exercising in icy or wet weather Symptoms of Frostbite Skin becomes white or grayish yellow and looks glossy Pain is sometimes felt early, but subsides later (often feeling is lost and no pain is felt) Blisters may appear later The affected area feels intensely cold and numb Pollution and Altitude: High levels of air pollution affect your breathing ability. People who live at high altitudes have little trouble exercising whereas lower altitudes may have issues adjusting to higher altitudes.

Rules for Dressing for Physical Activity Wear comfortable clothing Wash exercise clothing regularly Dress in layers when exercising outdoors Wear proper socks Wear proper shoes consider lace up ankle braces Warm Up Should be at least 2 minutes and up to several minutes. Can include walking, slow jogging, slow swimming, slow bicycling, or a similar activity. Goal is to increase your heart rate and warm the large muscles of the body Do your heart warm up both before and after your muscle stretching warm up. Stretch slowly and easily. Do not bounce, jerk, or try to stretch too fast. Make sure you do a few movements slow and easy that you will be including in your workout. Cool down Continue to move for several minutes after workout Muscle stretches can be the same as the warm up but with more intensity.

Questions for review to complete now What are the many environmental factors that can make activity unhealthy or unsafe? What are some of the guidelines for dressing properly for physical activity in normal environments? Why should you perform a warm up and a cool down, and how can you perform them properly?

Sprains Strains Blisters Bruises Cuts/Scrapes If an activity is not done properly it can lead to injury. Some common injuries are: Sprains Strains Blisters Bruises Cuts/Scrapes

Skin Feet Ankles Knees Leg Muscles More serious but less common injuries include: Joint Dislocations Bone Fractures Most common areas for injury: Skin Feet Ankles Knees Leg Muscles

Least likely injuries: Head Arms Body Internal organs Types of Injury: Overuse injury- movement is repeated so much that it causes wear and tear on the body Sidestitch- a pain in the side of the lower abdomen. Not really an injury because pain goes away. To relieve pain, press firmly at the point of pain while bending forward and back. Microtrauma- (invisible injury) may not cause immediate soreness but after repeated use symptoms will appear. Sprain- injury to ligaments stretched, swelling or pain can result. Strain- injury to tendons or muscle which can result in muscle pain or swelling. Anabolic steroids- illegal supplements to enhance performance. Steroids have been shown to injure tendons and ligaments.

Ligaments-tough tissue that hold bones together Tendons are a tissue that connect muscle to bone

Biomechanical Principles Never force a movement Move only how it is designed Never overstress bones, tendons, ligaments, or muscles Balance muscle development

To reduce the risk of injury and improve performance you should: Start Slowly- most injuries occur in beginners Listen to your body- injuries occur when you ignore the signs and symptoms your body is giving you. If you feel pain learn what is causing it Warm up before and cool down after activity Be fit- one way to avoid injury is to be fit and take care of your body. Use moderation-Overuse can cause many minor injuries. Dress properly The RICE Formula R is for rest Injury should rest for 2-3 days depending on the injury I is for ice Sprains or strains should be immersed in cold water or covered in ice for 20 minutes asap. If you can’t immerse the injury then an ice massage will work as well C is for compression. An elastic band can limit the swelling. E is for elevation Elevate the injury above the level of the heart

Risky Exercises Hyperflexion- means to bend too much. Hyperflexion causes you to use a joint in a way that it was not intended to be used. Examples would be duckwalks, bicycles, and hands behind the neck sit ups. Back Hyperextension- extending the back more than intended. i.e. back bends Joint twisting, compression, and friction- this can include activities where the joints rub against each other, i.e. hurdle sits, standing windmill toe touches, and arm circles (palm down). Improper strengthening or stretching- “W” sits

Questions to answer: What are some exercise related physical injuries? How can you prevent injuries during physical activity? How can the RICE formula be used to treat physical injuries? What are some different types of risky exercises?