Whether hitting the trails or playing a pick-up game with friends, the weekend is your playground. It’s the time when you unleash your inner athlete or explore the great outdoors. Being a weekend warrior means cramming as much physical activity as possible into your days off. It’s about pushing yourself, breaking a sweat and feeling alive.
But without the proper preparation or gradual build-up, your body might not always be ready for the intense activity. This is where the term “weekend warrior injuries” comes in. Weekend warrior injuries are common among those who pack intense physical activity into their days off.
So what happens when that fun leads to a sudden injury? Do you know where to turn when a sprain or strain threatens your weekend plans? Fortunately, urgent care centers are well-equipped to handle many of these injuries quickly and effectively.
With the help of Benjamin Rayhorn, PA-C, a physician assistant with Banner Urgent Care, learn how urgent care can be your go-to resource for bouncing back from injuries and getting you to the activities you love.
Common weekend warrior injuries
Engaging in intense physical activity on the weekend can be fun, but it also comes with the risk of injury. Here are the most frequent injuries that can occur when you push your body to its limit during your weekend escapades:
- Sprains: “A sprain occurs when you overstretch or tear a ligament, the tissue that connects bones to joints,” Rayhorn said. Ankle sprains are particularly common and can happen when you land awkwardly during a jump or twist your foot during a hike.
- Strains: Unlike sprains, strains affect muscles and tendons that connect muscles to the bones. “Strains can happen when you overexert yourself or lift something heavy without proper form,” Rayhorn said. A pulled hamstring during a sprint or a strained back from lifting are common strains that can happen.
- Overuse injuries: These develop over time from repetitive stress on muscles, joints and tendons. Common overuse injuries include tennis elbow, runner’s knee, shin splints and plantar fasciitis. If you spend your weekends pounding the pavement or swinging a racket, you might be familiar with these nagging pains.
- Broken bones: Fractures can occur from falls, collisions or heavy impacts during activities. Whether it’s a broken finger from a ball game or a fractured wrist from a fall, these injuries require attention to ensure proper healing.
- Cuts or lacerations: Active weekends can sometimes lead to cuts or scrapes, like a fall from a bike. These wounds may need cleaning, stitches or other treatment to prevent infection and ensure proper healing.
When to visit an urgent care
When you have an injury, it’s important to get it checked out as soon as possible. Urgent care centers are designed to handle any non-life-threatening injury or illness.
“We treat a wide range of injuries at urgent care,” Rayhorn said. “Most sports and athletic injuries can be managed in an urgent care setting and don’t need to be seen in the emergency department (ED).”
Urgent care centers are a valuable part of your health care toolkit, especially for active people who love making the most of their weekends. Here’s how they fit into your overall health journey:
- Accessibility: With convenient locations and extended hours, urgent care centers are designed to fit into your busy lifestyle.
- Immediate evaluation: No need to wait days for an appointment. You can walk in without an appointment and be seen quickly.
- Expert treatment: Urgent care centers have the necessary diagnostic tools, such as X-rays, and offer a range of treatments to alleviate pain and promote healing. If you have a sprain, they might provide an elastic bandage or brace to stabilize the joint. “Cuts or skin abrasions can be cleaned, stitched, stapled or bandaged,” Rayhorn said. “Tetanus immunizations can also be updated in the urgent care setting.”
- Cost-effective: Urgent care visits are typically more affordable than ED visits. They provide high-quality care at a fraction of the cost, making it a practical choice for non-emergency injuries.
- Referral options: Sometimes, an injury might require specialized care. “Urgent care centers can refer you to the appropriate specialist, such as an orthopedic surgeon, physical therapist or sports medicine expert,” Rayhorn said. This ensures you get the care you need without the long wait times often seen in other health care settings.
When to visit the emergency department
While urgent care centers handle many injuries, some situations require a visit to the ED. Here’s when you should head straight to the ED:
- Head injuries
- Spine injuries
- Severe fractures (when the bone is sticking out through the skin, or the body part is deformed)
- Severe cuts (significant bleeding that does not stop after applying pressure for several minutes; visible cut in tendon or numbness, tingling or weakness in the limb or near the cut)
- Severe chest pain or breathing difficulties
Preventing weekend warrior injuries
Urgent care centers will be there if you’re injured, but prevention is always the best strategy. Here are some tips to keep you active and injury-free:
- Warm-up and cool-down: Always start your activity with a proper warm-up to prepare your muscles and a cool-down to help them recover.
- Stay hydrated: Dehydration can lead to muscle cramps and decreased performance. Drink plenty of water before, during and after your activities.
- Use proper gear: Wear the right shoes for the activity. Wear supportive braces if needed.
- Know your limits: It’s good to challenge yourself but be mindful of your body’s signals. Pushing too hard can lead to overuse injuries. Listen to your body and give it the rest it needs.
- Strength training: Building stronger muscles can help support your joints and prevent injuries.
- Rehab old injuries: If you have a history of injuries, make sure to follow through with proper rehabilitation. “Strengthening and properly healing previous injuries can prevent re-injury and keep you active and pain-free,” Rayhorn said.
Takeaway
As a weekend warrior, you thrive on staying active and pushing your limits. But injuries can happen and when they do, knowing where to turn is important.
Urgent care centers offer immediate evaluation, expert treatment and referral options to help you recover quickly and get back to doing what you love. So the next time you feel a twinge of pain after a weekend adventure, remember that urgent care centers are here to help you bounce back stronger and healthier.
