Strains, sprains, and bruises—if your child plays sports, they’re likely to experience one or more of these sooner or later, if they haven’t already. The good news is, while accidents happen, there are steps you can take together to reduce the risk and get them back in the game in no time.
Preventing Injuries
Before your child even attends their first practice, arm them with appropriate protective gear for their sport. Often coaches will send out a list of required gear, but it’s a good idea to ask about optional items as well. A dancer might consider utilizing protective tape, a baseball player could add a chest or hat guard to his uniform, and a safety vest could be a smart call for a horseback rider.
Gear in place, it’s time to start off practice on the right foot with a few stretches to target key muscles which your child will use in their sport. If their coach doesn’t routinely start practices with stretching, suggest your child stretch on their own beforehand, or offer to lead a group stretch in the minutes leading up to practice. childrenscolorado.org offers a list of simple stretches designed to improve flexibility and range of motion in athletes.
During practice, make sure your child drinks plenty of water and takes breaks if they start to tire. Learning the correct techniques and asking the coach if they’re unsure are key to preventing sports injuries.
Keep it Simple
If an injury is serious enough to require professional medical attention, it’s important to follow the doctor’s orders and abstain from practicing until cleared to do so. Kids who are feeling up to it are often encouraged to attend practice from the sidelines to support their team while they recover.
Some minor injuries can be cared for with simple home remedies. The RICE method combines four healing strategies: rest, ice, compression, and elevation, to encourage early healing in acute sports injuries. Begin by resting the injured area as much as possible in the first couple days after the injury occurs. Ice the affected area in 15-20 minute intervals throughout the day, then wrap in a compression wrap or bandage. Finally, keep the injured body part elevated as much as possible for the first couple days to help prevent pain and swelling. Learn more about the RICE method at nih.gov.
Once cleared to return to their sport, make sure your child takes things slowly to avoid further injury. Keeping an open line of communication between yourself, your athlete, and their coach is the best way to ensure a successful return to the sport your child loves!
When to seek help
While some injuries are obvious, others can be harder to spot. If your child complains about pain, stiffness, difficulty bearing weight, or trouble moving a limb, it’s best to pull them from practice and have them checked out by a medical professional. Symptoms such as difficulty breathing, a rapid heartbeat that doesn’t normalize with rest, heavy bleeding, or damage to teeth all require immediate, emergency medical attention.
If a child experiences a fall or collision, they should immediately be checked for concussion. Most coaches go through a mandatory concussion training annually, and parents can also educate themselves on the signs of concussion through the Heads Up program at cdc.gov. Children experiencing dizziness, headache, light sensitivity, nausea, confusion, or loss of consciousness should not return to practice until they’ve been examined and cleared by a medical professional.
