Q: I’ve started getting more active outdoors this spring—how can I avoid injuries and know when something needs medical attention?

Written By Dr. Gary Herring, MD
Back pain and injuries can put a cramp in your Springtime style.

Back pain and injuries can put a crimp in your springtime style.

Q: I’ve started getting more active outdoors this spring—how can I avoid injuries and know when something needs medical attention?

A. As the weather improves across Berks, Chester, and surrounding counties, many people jump back into outdoor activities—yard work, running, biking, and weekend sports. While this is great for your health, it’s also one of the most common times of year I see strains, sprains, and overuse injuries in urgent care.

Q: What are the most common spring injuries?

The biggest issues I see are:

  • Muscle strains and joint sprains from doing too much too quickly

  • Back injuries from lifting or yard work

  • Knee and ankle issues from uneven terrain or increased activity

  • Overuse injuries like tendonitis from repetitive motion

After a more sedentary winter, your body simply isn’t conditioned for sudden spikes in activity.

Q: How can I prevent these injuries?

A few simple steps go a long way:

  • Start gradually: Increase activity levels over time, not all at once

  • Warm up and stretch: Even 5–10 minutes can reduce injury risk

  • Use proper technique: Especially for lifting, gardening, or sports

  • Wear appropriate footwear: Good support matters more than most people think

  • Listen to your body: Pain is a warning sign, not something to push through

Q: When should I seek medical care?

Not every ache requires a visit, but you should get evaluated if you have:

  • Significant swelling or bruising

  • Inability to bear weight or use a limb normally

  • Pain that doesn’t improve after a few days of rest

  • Numbness, weakness, or joint instability

Urgent care is a great option for evaluating these types of injuries quickly, without the wait of an emergency room.

Q: Final advice?

Staying active is one of the best things you can do for your health—but consistency beats intensity. Ease back into activity, take care of your body, and you’ll be able to enjoy everything our region has to offer this spring and summer.

Dr. Gary Herring, MD

Dr. Gary A. Herring, M.D. is a board-certified family medicine physician and the founder, CEO, and Medical Director of A-Z Health Services in Elverson, Pennsylvania. With more than 25 years of hands-on clinical experience spanning family practice, emergency medicine, hospitalist care, occupational health, and outpatient surgery, Dr. Herring brings a rare breadth of expertise to every patient encounter.

Dr. Herring founded A-Z Health Services in 2018 to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care to the Berks and Chester County community—all under one roof. Whether you need a same-day urgent care visit, routine primary care, a pre-employment physical, chiropractic care, weight-loss guidance and support, or outpatient surgery consultation, Dr. Herring and his team are equipped to help.

Before establishing A-Z Health Services, Dr. Herring spent over a decade practicing emergency medicine at Level I and Level II trauma centers across Pennsylvania and Arizona, including serving as ER Director and EMS Director at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital. At this Level II Trauma Center, he led a team of more than 70 nurses and EMS personnel. He also served as Medical Director for Eagle Air Medical Transport, a fixed-wing air ambulance service providing 24/7 critical care transport for patients in Arizona, the Navajo Nation, and the Four Corners region

His dual foundation in family medicine and high-acuity emergency care means Dr. Herring is equally comfortable managing chronic conditions, acute injuries, and everything in between, making A-Z Health Services one of the most clinically capable urgent care and primary care practices in southeastern Pennsylvania.

https://www.a-zurgentcare.com/dr-gary-herring-md
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