Preventing Sports Injuries in Children
According to a report by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, there are an estimated 21.5 million children between the ages of 6 and 17 that play team sports in the United States. Unfortunately, with numbers that big, there are many opportunities for pediatric sports injuries to occur as well. As a matter of fact, the Centers for Disease Prevention (CDC) reported that between the years of 2001 and 2009, there were about 2.7 million children under the age of 20 that were treated for sports related injuries. No wonder parents are worried about their children being injured on a playing field.
At the children’s clinic of Cape Fear Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, in Fayetteville, NC, we treat pediatric sports injuries. Our physical therapists are highly trained in treating orthopedic injuries in clients of all ages. While we love caring for all of our patients, if we could prevent pediatric sports injuries from happening, we would. The best we can do to prevent sports injuries from bringing patients into our children’s clinic is to pass on a few tips that we have learned throughout the years.
Teach your child to stretch properly before and after participating in any sporting event. Do not assume that a coach is teaching your child to stretch, especially if the sport is being coached by parent volunteers that may not understand just how important stretching is. Some injuries can be prevented simply with proper stretching.
Do not allow your child to continue playing through any type of pain. If they feel pain in their bodies, have them stop immediately. Playing through the pain will likely just make an injury worse, and nobody wants that. No game is more important than your child’s health.
Encourage your child to stay hydrated on and off the field. Drinking water is vital to good health, whether they are playing sports or not. Getting overheated during a game can lead to loss of balance which can lead to orthopedic sports injuries.
You cannot always prevent sports injuries, but you can do your part to keep your child from having to see our physical therapists in the children’s clinic of Cape Fear Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. If you do find yourself in need of orthopedic care for your young athlete, give us a call at (910) 484-2171.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and DOES NOT CONSTITUTE THE PROVIDING OF MEDICAL ADVICE, and is not intended to be a substitute for independent professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your health.
