With summer in full swing, many of us will have vacations planned and a lot of summer activities for the kids to keep them occupied. Some of my favorite things to do during the summer are water skiing, tennis, golfing, and hiking.

I never do any of these expecting to get hurt, but life happens. So the question is, what can you do to treat or prevent these pesky summer injuries?

There are a few common injuries that I've had while hiking, playing tennis, and water skiing (other than my pride when I can’t get up on the slalom ski). I tend to suffer from, muscle strains, ankle and knee sprains, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis.

If you are like me, here are some things you can do to avoid injury. Before getting out on the slalom ski or tennis court, it would be good to get your muscles warmed up with some light stretching and a warm up of some sort. This warm up can be a quick swim or a short jog. A good warm up helps prepare the body for activity, and can go a long way in preventing injury.

Now if you do happen to get hurt, and the injury is not a medical emergency, you can begin treating sprains and strains immediately using the acronym RICE. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

Following RICE will get you back to your best sooner. And more often these injuries will resolve themselves within 1-2 weeks. If time passes, and the injury persists, then it is the time to come see your physical therapist. We can provide the additional treatment necessary for your body to heal properly.

Now, the same treatment goes for those of you suffering from tennis elbow. You can try the RICE approach, but if you feel your grip strength is getting worse, this is your sign to schedule an appointment with your physical therapist, and prevent further deterioration.

Often times, when we start being more active during the summer, the bottom of our feet can start to hurt. This is often the cause of a condition called plantar fasciitis.

Some good home remedies for plantar fasciitis are stretching you calves, and getting a lacrosse or a golf ball, and rubbing it along the bottom of your foot. Repeat as necessary, and you should begin to feel some relief.

If these tricks fail to get you the improvements you desire, come on in, and we can get you back out having fun in the sun a lot faster. In the meantime, be safe, out there, and don't forget to stretch first!

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