Interview with Matt Tippett, PT (written by Veronica Cavanaugh, PTA)
For the third blog in our Outdoor Series, let's meet Matt. Matt is a PT in our Altoona Office, and he has chosen boating as his outdoor activity. With the 4th of July landing in the middle of the week, many of us will be celebrating it over the weekend, and boating is a great way to celebrate the holiday!
"I have been water skiing since 7 years old. My family has been going to Treasure Lake since I was old enough to walk. Now I take my family, wife and 4 year old son, a few weekends every summer camping and boating, and they love it too."
Boating is a fantastic way to bond with your family and friends. Some boating activities that Matt enjoys with his family include water skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, and tubing. These "boating activities are strenuous, full body workouts" so it is very important to be safe and to take care of yourself and your family. Here are some great boating safety tips:
Stay Hydrated.
"Increased activity causes dehydration and puts you more at risk for soft tissue injuries." It is easy to get caught up in the fun and not think about your fluid intake. A cooler full of drinks (water and sports drinks) is an easy way to always have something ready. Remember to drink even though you don't feel thirsty because thirst is a first sign of dehydration.
Stretch.
"Stretching prior to and after activities decreases risk of injury and minimizes muscle soreness." This does not mean that you need to spend an hour before the activity and an hour after stretching. Just 5 minutes will do. According to a study by the military, injury occurs most when someone is highly flexible or very inflexible. So a gentle and smooth warm up and cool down is the perfect TLC for the body. This is a great habit for you and your family, especially when doing strenuous boating activities like water skiing or wake boarding.
Slowly Progress Your Activity Level.
"Don't overdo it. While these activities are a lot of fun, overdoing it causes increased soreness for days following the activities." If you get really sore after an activity, you won’t want to keep doing it. One of the most important points of the outdoors is to have fun and enjoy the time with your family and friends. Make sure to take plenty of rest breaks and not go out too hard or too fast. After all, you have the whole summer to enjoy the lake.
Stick To Lower Traffic Lakes.
"Busy lakes and water ways are more dangerous. Try to find an area of lake with less traffic for towing." There are also boater safety courses available online. These are designed to help you understand the rules of the lake. You must take the courses if you have a personal watercraft or are driving a vessel that is powered by a motor of more than 25 horsepower. Furthermore, if you are born after January 1, 1982, then you are required to take a boater safety course. If you live in Pennsylvania, please go here to take the online course. If you live in any other state, then go here to take the appropriate course for your state.
Life Jackets.
"Make sure to wear lifejackets. Even the best swimmers can't stay afloat after severe injuries." This is a very important safety tip. It takes only 30 seconds for a person to drown, and drowning isn't like what you see in the movies or on TV. Here is a great article to learn more about the Instinctive Drowning Response, and here is an interactive set of videos designed to help lifeguards spot when someone is drowning. These videos show you what to look for before and during a real lifeguard rescue.
"Hopefully these suggestions will make boating more enjoyable while doing them, and (these fun activities will be) in your memories for years to come."
Remember: always be sure to wear sunscreen when out in the sun. Please go to our blog for further reading and check out our website to learn more about Atlas Physical Therapy.
Additional Helpful Sources:
- Thirsty? You're Already Dehydrated.
- Dehydration- Mayo Clinic.
- Fluids and Hydration in Prolonged Endurance Performance.
Serge P von Duvillard, PhD, FACSM, William A Braun, PhD, Melissa Markofski, MS, Ralph Beneke, MD, PhD, FACSM, Renate Leithäuser, MD DOI - Physical Training and Exercise-Related Injuries. Surveillance, Research and Injury Prevention in Military Populations.
Jones BH1, Knapik JJ. Sports Med. 1999 Feb;27(2):111-25. - Official Boater Safety Courses and Boat Safety Education Materials
- Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning.
- Spot The Drowning Child.
