Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

There are many reasons why athletes are prone to injuries either during the season or in the off-season. Injuries can occur and reoccur in athletes for multiple reasons such as the use of improper equipment, not putting in full effort in performance drills, improper stretching before engaging in athletic competition or practice, and not participating in necessary treatment to prevent the injury from reoccurring. However, it’s very rare to see a conditioned athlete who is at a high risk of injuries due to improper training. The impact of some injuries, particularly injuries to soft tissue and connected tissue surrounding joints, can last anywhere from three months to a lifetime for an athlete. Is there a way to quickly and significantly strengthen soft tissue and rehabilitate joints injuries after sports injury? To answer this question, a quasi-experimental study is conducted using fifteen to twenty-five FAMU student-athletes, randomly selected, and assigned to either a control or treatment group. Participants in both groups perform manual muscle testing, such as passive and active range of motion assessment of different joints. The test findings determine the injury prevention program each athlete in the treatment group receives. After evaluating the research subject’s pre-evaluation and post-performance, the researcher assesses the health improvement, based on nutrition and training habits, and use of proper body mechanics with therapeutic exercises. The goal of this study is to obtain the most efficient fitness regime that will keep athletes healthier and more energetic throughout their careers.