From sprains to gains, sports enthusiasts take injuries calmly

This year also marks the start of the country's three-year "Weight Management Year" action plan, with a heightened emphasis on obesity prevention and control in public health.

Parks and trails often bustle with cycling groups, sports venues host thrilling basketball and badminton matches, and fitness centers offer various slimming and management packages, leading to a surge in nationwide fitness activities.

However, a rise in participation has also led to an increase in serious sports injuries.

Some former gym enthusiasts are even sharing advice on knee and waist care on lifestyle platforms like Xiaohongshu, or RedNote.

Knee health has become a prominent concern, with more urban residents joining the running community. Research from People Data, an arm of People.cn, revealed that among runners, 56.9 percent occasionally experience sports injuries, 18.2 percent frequently get injured, and only 24.9 percent have never encountered any sports injuries. This indicates that over 70 percent of runners have experienced sports injuries, with knee joints, ankle injuries and plantar fasciitis being the most common issues.

Sudden injuries due to improper working out may make fitness enthusiasts feel as though they have reached their own "end" in the orthopedics department. However, as Sun Yizhong, the chief physician who operated on me in the Chongli hospital, said, orthopedics is not the "end" of skiing but a "starting point". After active treatment and recovery, patients can once again hit the slopes, he said.