Derrick Burgess, M.D. South Central Sports Medicine Medical Director and Orthopaedic Surgeon

The start of school will arrive before we know it and for many high school athletes: let the games begin. Michael Buffer’s famous words of “Let’s get ready to rumble,” may be more than just a saying to pump up the crowd. Athletes literally need to get ready and prepare for the upcoming season of their sport. Off season and in season training vary through different levels from one sport to another. The ultimate goal of an off season training schedule is to bring the athlete to peak performance levels and, most importantly, to prevent injuries.

Regardless if an athlete works out at the gym regularly or appears to be naturally fit, none of that fully prepares the athlete for the demands of his or her sport. Preseason training gets the athlete’s body ready for the kind of physical movement the sport requires. Without preseason training, an athlete is more likely to get an injury from fatigue or lack of mobility/flexibility because his or her body did not adjust to the physical action of the sport. No athlete should be exposed to the full demands of his or her sport too soon. With preseason training, the athlete will gradually adapt to the sport and experience many other benefits that include:

• being fit and ready for physical demands
• improving strength so the muscles and joints will be able to handle sudden or large forces
• enhancing endurance so the athlete can play longer
• enhancing speed so the athlete can move quicker
• enhancing flexibility so the athlete has a greater range of motion

The Sports Medicine team at South Central Regional Medical Center wants to help you and your family enjoy optimum health through every stage of life. South Central Performance+ offers different classes to help athletes get the preseason training needed to perform to the best of their ability. The sessions provided are:

• Sportsmetrics Female ACL Injury Prevention Program – Instructor: Whitney Whittington September 8 through October 15, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 3:30 p.m.

• Tennis Speed and Agility – October 20 through November 12

• Arm Care for Throwing Athletes – Instructor: Kirk Landrum, ATC December 21 through January 28, Tuesdays & Thursdays

• Soccer Speed and Agility – March 1, 2016 – March 24, 2016

Let South Central Sport’s Medicine get your athlete ready to rumble this season. For more information, please call 601.399.0530.