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Every week, Dr. Jean-Marc Sène, sports doctor, presents his sports column in Priorité Santé. This week, he gives advice on practicing a sporting activity in complete safety.
How to choose the right equipment?
Whatever the sport, you must choose your shoes with the greatest attention: your safety, your health and the pleasure you will take while practicing are at stake.
You need to try on your shoes in the right conditions, with the right socks and taking your time. Pay attention to the size which may not be that of your dress shoes. Listen to the advice of the sellers who will also be able to tell you the best shoes according to your level and the conditions in which you practice.
Then it will be necessary to do them, that is to say to wear them in training or for short periods of time. A solution to avoid damaging your feet.
Some sports, such as cycling for example, lead to the use of more or less sophisticated equipment. It is nonetheless true that the fact that this equipment is adapted to your physical profile and your conditions of practice remains the main safety criterion for your health.
This material must be chosen with great precision taking into account both your anatomical characteristics, but also your technical level, the frequency with which you practice and the conditions in which you practice. A good adjustment is essential!
Get help from professionals to choose your equipment: they will be able to advise you.
Is it also important to take into account the climatic conditions?
Weather that is too cold, too hot, intense rain or pollution announced should alert you and lead you to take certain precautions. These tips are of course particularly important when the efforts are important and when the quality of the ground has a direct influence on the practice.
In case of cold:
- adapt your equipment and cover yourself. Better to be too hot than cold. It is always possible to uncover in case of heat
In case of rain:
- adapt your equipment so you don’t get wet.
- give the utmost importance to shoes and be careful not to slip.
In case of significant heat:
- the risk is dehydration: increase the drinks without waiting to be thirsty. Only practice in the morning or at the end of the day when the temperature is lower.
- pay attention to your equipment and its color: do not wear dark colors.
- protect yourself from the sun and wet your head.
In case of pollution do not practice, especially if you have a history of allergy, asthma or if you have respiratory problems.
If you resume a sporting activity, do you not hesitate to talk to your doctor about it?
Absolutely, he will be able to detect possible back, joint or heart problems and will then direct you to the activity best suited to your needs and your state of health.
Your doctor will take your pulse and blood pressure and may perform a resting electrocardiogram. This examination can detect about three quarters of heart disease at risk.
If you are over 35, if you smoke or if you suffer from cholesterol, you will be asked for an exercise test. This is an electrocardiogram performed during exercise, most often on an exercise bike.