As the seasons move from winter to spring and summer, workouts and activities tend to change as well. Wintertime promotes more inside activity and spring and summer compels us to get outside more. Makes sense!

Indoor activity in the winter and outdoor activity in the summer is perfectly natural. It’s the transition from one to the other that creates inherent risk. Indoor activity and exercise are different than outdoor activity and exercise.

During the fall and winter months we move indoors for most of our activities. We’re in the gym or on the court. We’re in the studio or at the pool. We’re doing our thing in confined spaces. Routines are tight and controlled. We focus on sets and repetitions. Our cardio exercise is in a studio or on a stationary bike or treadmill.

As spring moves to summer, we start to move outdoors. We still do our indoor workouts, but we also start moving around outside. We bike, hike and climb. We walk, jog and swim. We are free to move about in large, outdoor spaces. All you need is a field and a ball, and you can run, jump and play for hours.

Here are a few injuries occurring more commonly in the spring and summer months:

Muscle Cramps. Everyone hates muscle cramps. They often strike with no warning during strenuous activity. It’s especially common with summer activities outdoors where dehydration is more likely. Be sure and drink plenty of water.

Ankle Sprains. Ankle sprains are one of the most common summertime injuries. Outdoor activities are often on uneven surfaces such as a field or yard. Parks and beaches are places where ankle sprains are common. Do your activities on a solid, level surface and wear good shoes.

Eye Injuries. The frequency of eye injuries increases during the outdoor months. From getting hit with a softball or frisbee to getting hit with debris in a river or on the beach, protecting your eyes can become a challenge. Think about protective eyewear for your sports.

Concussions. Concussions are traumatic brain injuries caused by a sudden impact that shakes the brain within the skull. Contact sports are common places for concussions. Outdoor activities where there are people falling are also places where concussions are prevalent. People falling off bikes, skateboards, scooters and motorcycles are more likely to have a concussion, especially if they don’t wear a helmet.

Tendonitis. Tendonitis is caused by inflammation in a tendon. It’s common in the shoulder, knees, elbow and wrist and usually related to overuse. A common occurrence is someone who hasn’t jogged much in the winter, jogs more in the summer and develops tendonitis in the knee.