Sports Injuries in Kids
by Erin from Vancouver
Kids and Sports Injuries
There are three main types of sport injuries in kids: acute injuries, overuse injuries, and re-injuries. If a child suffers from an acute injury, it occurs suddenly, such as a sprain, strain, or more severe trauma like a broken bone. Severe acute injuries also include eye injuries, spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. Overuse injuries are sustained over time, from repetitive actions that put stress on the body. Common overuse injuries include knee, shoulder, back and elbow pain and shin splints. A re-injury occurs if a child returns to playing a sport before an injury has properly healed. It's important that a physician approves a child's return to the game, and also that they use proper equipment and warm up and cool down to avoid re-injury. If your child suffers any injury while playing sports, it will need to be determined if it requires on field first aid or a visit to the emergency room. It's important that kids are checked out by a medical professional if they are complaining of any pain or injury, as acute injuries can easily turn into chronic injuries that cause lifelong problems. Here are some tips on reducing children's sports injuries: Make a good match. If you have a younger child (under the age of seven or eight), you may notice he or she is less coordinated than older children, with a slower reaction time. If your child is above or below average height or weight, they may also be more susceptible to sports injuries. Don't put your child into a sports situation where they are outmatched by size or skill level; make sure that they are mature enough to participate safely. Outfit your kids. It's important that kids use proper equipment to prevent a sports injury, and that it fits them well and is regularly replaced. Every sport organization has regulatory standards for protective equipment, so ensure that the sport equipment you're buying meets the standards put forth by each agency. Be careful when buying secondhand sports equipment, as all equipment needs to be properly maintained in order to remain effective. Check out the environment. Part of ensuring your child's safety while playing sports has to do with knowing that the area is safe: look for uneven ground or holes in the field, make sure that all activities are properly supervised, and that the team coach is trained in first aid and CPR. Talk sport safety with your kids. As adults, we often assess certain situations for their risk factors to make safe decisions. Children may take more risks than adults and not be as aware. Discuss proper safety precautions with your kids and send them onto the field informed; this includes engaging in safe play, having respect for other players, and immediately informing the coach of any injury. Aricle by Erin www.healthchoices.ca |
