Please tell me that I'm not the only one who gasped from seeing Gordon Hayward's ankle snap and bent in a direction it's not supposed to. It was horrifying, and it reminded me of the young college basketball player Kevin Ware's traumatic injury back in 2013.

I played soccer and basketball in high school and I remember getting injured from time to time. As a high school student I definitely underestimated the things that people told me to do to avoid injuries. So here's a piece of advice for everyone who plays sports or works out:

1. Stretch.

I cannot stress enough how important stretching is, and this is definitely coming from experience. I can't even begin to count how many minor and major ankle sprains I had from simply lack of stretching, and I still remember screwing up my knee when my stiff, far-from-flexible legs landed in a weird way during my soccer game. Stretching prepares your muscles to be flexible and strong, and maintains those rapid movements that cause burden on your joints.

2. Warm Up/Cool down.

Though stretching is a part of this, warming up and cooling down deserve their own spot on the list because it's so important to do that before and after your exercise. Warming up definitely helps your blood flow to your muscles and increases your body temperature, and cooling down allows your body for gradual recovery (especially for your heart rate!). Incorporating stretching in both of these things definitely help reduce your muscle soreness, too.

3. Wear protective gear.

If you are playing a sport that involves physical contact with other players or any aggressive/rapid movements, please wear protective gear. Don't think of it as drag or something that slows you down. Think of it as your literal protection. Again, coming from experience.

4. Proper training.

Using the right techniques and training your muscles properly are also very important. If your muscles aren't trained in a way to suit your sport, your muscles are going to suffer. If you're playing a sport that involves sudden turns and movements, strengthen your muscles and stretch them so they are ready for that (I had shin splints all throughout high school because I didn't properly strengthen my muscles behind my shins).

5. Get help.

If you think your body or a part of your body is hurting and you don't feel that it's normal, get help, and get it early. The earlier the better because too many people ignore those warning signs that their muscles and joints are giving them and end up actually making the injuries worse. Early help calls for faster recovery and make sure that if you are in the process of recovery, stay patient and don't do anything that burdens your injury. If you have the time, make sure that you go for regular check ups too.