Sports injuries can happen quickly or progressively. Acute injuries are more exceptional, but chronic wounds can be equally harmful to one’s health or a person’s long-term athletic ability.
Damage to ligaments, joints, muscles, bones, nerves, and other structures is a repetitive stress injury. A haverford physical exam can advise on protecting young athletes from repeated stress injuries. You can protect your child’s physical health and potential for athletic achievement by adopting specific essential measures, including those listed below.
What parents should know about preventing repetitive injuries in young athletes?
Young athletes often suffer repetitive stress injuries as a result of acts that are performed repeatedly. For instance, pitching constantly can cause elbow or shoulder issues for baseball pitchers. Additionally, the force of running frequently might cause knee or hip problems in runners. Young basketball, tennis, dancing, gymnast players, swimmers, and dancers are also prone to repetitive stress injuries.
Almost all teenagers are vulnerable to these conditions, which can result in discomfort or poor performance, require a vacation from activities, and occasionally even require surgery.
By doing the following, you can avoid repeated stress injuries in kids and teens:
- Proper instruction: Ensure your child has a qualified coach to create an instruction plan without unnecessary repetition or cross-training. Careful warming up, cool-downs, and strength-building are all part of proper training.
- Adequate rest: After training and playing a sport, your child’s body needs time to relax and recover.
- High-quality injury care: If your child is hurt playing sports, they should get the proper treatment from an experienced sports medicine professional.
- Rapid symptom evaluation: Avoid waiting to see if symptoms associated with sports performance—such as swelling, soreness, stiffness, or other issues—will go away on their own. An injury caused by repetitive stress might get serious if the early signs are neglected.
- A young athlete’s body requires time to recover fully after treatment before they can start training. Consult with a professional and follow their plan since recovery periods vary.
- Expert advice: An expert’s sports performance evaluations may identify possible repetitive stress injuries earlier than they occur. They will provide direction on particular steps your kid or adolescent may take to prevent damage in their sport and suggestions for getting professional coaching.
- Prioritize recovery and rest: A young athlete’s likelihood to suffer uneven musculoskeletal strain is reduced by cross-training, while getting enough rest in between training sessions, sports, and competitions helps guarantee their body heals effectively.
