by Liz Bonis, WKRC | Click here to read the full story.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – As temperatures drop in the fall, medical experts emphasized the importance of warming up before engaging sports.

Dr. Jonathan Slaughter, a hand and upper extremity surgeon with OrthoCincy, highlighted the need to stretch hands and wrists as part of a workout warm-up.

Slaughter said most people don’t think about stretching their hands and wrists as part of a workout warm-up but also said that it may be as important as the aerobic part of the workout to reduce injury risk.

“So a warm up depends on what you are going to do, if you are going to be doing something with a lot of active motion with your hands, your elbows, your wrists, doing the stretches beforehand, sometimes even doing a jog to get the blood flowing, get more blood flowing to the muscles, so that they becomeloose but the stretching that all of us hate to do because we just want to get out there and play can be some of the most preventative,” said Slaughter.

Dr. Slaughter explained that warmer weather often keeps muscles limber due to increased activity. However, cooler temperatures may require additional stretching time for both the upper and lower body before starting play.

“If you are more active, sometimes it can take only five to ten minutes to really warm up, get blood flowing, get stretched out, also stretching lower body legs, sometimes it can take 20 to 30 minutes to really stretch out,” said Slaughter.

For those seeking guidance on stretching techniques, a physical therapist can provide helpful exercises. Dr. Slaughter also recommended light activity and gradually increasing intensity at the beginning of a workout or game as effective warm-up strategies.