Why are strength and flexibility so important in preventing sports injuries?

Why are strength and flexibility so important in preventing sports injuries?

Gary Brazina (Sports Medicine Physician) gives expert video advice on: Is strength training dangerous for the heart and circulatory system? and more...

Strength and flexibility are two of the basic keys of any athletic endeavour. All sports are a combination of strength, flexibility and balance, as well as aerobic capacity, and different sports have different demands. For example, a diver needs strength and major flexibility, as does a gymnast. A football player needs more agility, balance, and strength, with maybe less flexibility. However, flexibility will always give you less risk of injury. Strength, including core strength, is going to prevent chronic injuries like low back injuries and neck problems by keeping your core, your torso, stronger. It's not just arm strength or leg strength; we have learned through biomechanical studies that doing an athletic activity involves the whole body, for example throwing a ball - it includes the legs, the torso, the shoulder, the arm; the whole body is involved in throwing that ball.