Dealing with Sports and Injuries as a Parent
For many parents, there is nothing as satisfying as seeing their kid run around a field playing a game they love. Sports teach numerous life skills, as well as helping to keep kids active and healthy, so it’s no small wonder why many parents sign their kids up for as many sports as they can. However, it is also no secret that sports can cause injury, and many parents find themselves watching on anxiously and wincing when something looks like it went wrong. Fortunately for all the fretful parents out there, children are better healers than the rest of the adult world and when combined with preventative measures and proper care there is little that will stop your kid from getting on that field!
Understanding and Preventing Injury Risk with Kids
One of the most important factors to consider when thinking about sports injuries in children is that they have unique bodies distinct from an adult. Generally, they tend to heal faster and they also have biological differences, such as having four parts that make up their bones instead of four. These differences mean that when they get an injury, like a bone fracture, it will be different than if an adult had one. This means they need specialized care from people who understand these differences and how to treat them properly, or there is a risk for improper treatment
Another factor is that each sport places strain on the body in different ways and has different injuries associated with playing it. These injuries can range from cartilage tears to concussions, but we will try and focus on treating common orthopedic injuries that occur when kids play sports.
Tips to Preventing injuries with Kids
For preventing injury, however, several simple tips can go a long way in keeping your child out there doing what they love:
- Understand the risks that come with the age your child is. For younger children, their lack of coordination and reaction time can be their downfall, leading to injuries like sprains or muscle strains, whereas when they get older their increased strength and speed can cause more severe injuries like bone breaks due to the higher intensity.
- Stretch before every game! Stretching is a vital way for the body to get warmed up and prepared for the exertion of playing sports, and failing to do so can lead to injury.
- Make sure their equipment is safe to use and that the surface they are playing on is also in good condition and not filled with hazards such as holes or slick courts.
- Make sure they understand the importance of playing the right way. While not every parent is an expert on sports, it is still important to emphasize the value of doing what their coach says and playing with the right technique. Failure to use proper technique or form can lead to the body being exerted in the wrong way and cause injury.
Treating Sports Injuries as an Orthopaedic Specialist
If your child has sustained an injury playing sports that appears to need medical attention the first step is getting a diagnosis. In cases that involve injuries to the musculoskeletal system, the best option is to seek further care from trained orthopedists who have experience in treating children. The most common sports injuries relating to the musculoskeletal system are sprains, strains, fractures, breaks, and cartilage injuries. Typically, there is a low chance of long-term complications with these injuries, but improper care greatly increases the chance of this and re-injury.
Common treatments for these types of injuries include resetting the bone, casts, braces, and minimally invasive arthroscopic surgery depending on the injury’s severity and nature. All of these treatment methods come with relatively short turnarounds and don’t require prolonged or highly invasive surgery, so you can put your mind at ease and know that your kid will be back on the field in no time.
