One way to decrease the amount of injuries is to prevent them before they happen or treat them while they are minor. According to Daniel Duffy, “Many injuries can be avoided if athletes use proper strengthening programs, have qualified trainers, use equipment properly and are able to notice and treat early injuries” (Duffy NP). If player strengthens muscles in certain areas it can take the pressure away from that area and reduce the risk of an injury occurring in that area. A young athlete at Ashley High School explains that "One way to prevent ACL tears is to build up the muscles around the ACL, especially the hamstrings. This relieves some of the pressure exerted on the ligament, especially during landing, in turn reducing the risk of tearing the ACL" (Fullwood NP). Misuse of equipment can lead to serious injury. Some misuse exercise equipment so they can bulk up really fast or increase muscle tone rapidly. Misusing equipment can lead to many long-term injuries that can even stunt or stop growth in younger ones. Some have the thinking, “no pain, no gain,” and that if they can not feel pain the next day then they did not work hard enough. So the next day they push their body even further and usually they end up injuring the body in some way. Duffy notices this way of thinking in many athletes that he treats, his response to such thinking is, “Pain is your body’s way of telling you what your limits are. If you notice abnormal pain and swelling after exercising then you need to reduce the amount of exercise” (Duffy NP). Many coaches believe in “no pain, no gain,” therefore, this thinking can cause the whole team to develop multiple injuries. The coach will constantly push and push the team past their limits. Coaches should be properly trained and monitored in order to insure that they are not harming the team. Sport medicine trainers should be available during all practices and games so injuries can be detected and treated as soon as possible. Since sports become more and more competitive each year many are hiring personal trainers because they feel that that is the only way the can excel. Over practicing can lead to many detrimental problems. When exercise become repetitious and continuous the athlete risks injuring tissues, tendons or bones (DiFiori NP). Proper equipment should be worn at all times in order to insure protection from many serious injuries. Each sport has its own unique equipment that should be worn. Football players should always wear a helmet, mouth guard, shoulder pads, athletic supporters for males, chest/rib pads, forearm pads, elbow pads, and thigh pads, shin guards and proper shoes. Wearing these items can reduce the risk of obtaining injuries that could harm one’s health. Since many girls in basketball have to obtain knee surgery because of injuries, strengthening of muscles and cardiovascular training is essential. Soccer equipment includes the use of shin guards and cleats. Cardiovascular and aerobic training is required in order to make the body used to such sporting events. Playing with a proper batting helmet, gloves, cleats, and a mouth guard can reduce the amount of injury if stuck by a ball. When participating in running or jumping events such as track and field, shoes with arch supporters and athletic supporters are necessary to avoid many injuries to the ankles and knees (“Safe or Sorry” NP). Although prevention is necessary, not all injuries can be prevented.

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