Sport Injuries

Sport injuries among children and adolescents are generally a result of improper safety equipment, inadequate warming up and cooling down, improper technique, or frequent repetition of the same motions.  The following suggestions may help your child avoid injury while remaining physically active and fit:

• Properly fitting protective equipment should be worn at all times.  Equipment should be officially sanctioned by the organization that oversees the sport.  For example, a hockey facemask should be approved by the Hockey Equipment Certification Council.
• Ensure that your child’s teammates are of a similar skill level and size.  You may choose to enroll your child in lessons so that they are fully comfortable with proper techniques.
• Proper warm-up and cool-down sessions can help prevent injury.  Encourage your child to gradually ease into intense activity, and to avoid ending abruptly.  Stretching exercises should be performed after warming up, but before intense activity.  Stretching also is highly effective after cooling down in order to prevent stiffness and soreness, and to improve muscle flexibility.
• Ensure that your child drinks plenty of water before, during, and after intense activity.
• If your child plays the same sport year-round, he or she may be at risk for injuries caused by repetitive motion.  Encourage your child to try a different sport during one season of the year.
• Avoid returning to normal play too quickly following an injury, as this can lead to re-injury.  Allow complete healing, and ease back into the sport slowly with approval from your primary care physician.

Injuries and re-injuries can lead to chronic pain over time.  Always visit your primary care physician for detailed instructions regarding how to assist your child in healing quickly and effectively.  For more serious injuries, a visit to an emergency room or urgent care may be necessary.  However, remember to follow up with your primary care physician, so that they may monitor your child’s progress.

| Posted On : 7/20/2015 1:14:06 PM