It is very important to be physically active, whether recreationally or for sport, but it is also important to prevent injury and incorporate the appropriate treatment and rehabilitation programs to maintain and achieve optimal health so that the benefits of activity can be enjoyed over the course of a person’s life. Research and injury prevention programs to lessen impact of musculoskeletal injuries and their related costs—physical, emotional and monetary—is critical now more than ever. If we remain on our current course, musculoskeletal disabilities are predicted to increase dramatically over the next 20 years. It is not too late to change this.
Research is one of the primary ways that we increase our knowledge and develop preventative programs that can make a real difference in people’s lives. Studying the biomechanical, biological, environmental, and psychological factors that play roles in musculoskeletal injury will help us develop prevention programs that appropriately target the root causes of injuries. Some of this research is underway at institutes, universities, and laboratories around the country. However, injury prevention cannot be something that is entirely created in a laboratory. It is equally important that people are aware of the magnitude of the problem and the potential long-term implications of musculoskeletal injury. With more knowledge comes more power to make changes needed to lessen musculoskeletal injuries and create optimal health, mobility, and quality of life for ourselves and our society.
Carol Hutchins has seen a lot as a college softball player, and now as coach of the Wolverines for more than 25 years. Hutchins coached the team in 2005, winning the first NCAA championship title ever won by a softball team located north of the Mason-Dixon Line.
