Sports season is just around the corner with football about to kickoff and back-to-school shopping in full swing. If your child is ready to play in any school sports, then it is helpful to understand some key prevention techniques that help lower the risk of sports injuries.
Millions of younger children and adolescents each year experience sports injuries throughout the year, which can cause a great deal of pain and interrupt their season. But the good news is that sports injuries are highly preventable if parents, coaches, and training staff apply the following skills and knowledge to student athletes:
Tech your child safety skills and proper defensive techniques on the field
Especially if your child is participating in any contact sport, teaching your kids how to safely defend themselves is an effective means for preventing injuries.
Skills such as learning how to make proper contact, fall safely, and stay alert during play are very helpful in making sure that they are not as injury-prone during play. Talk with your child’s coaches to see if there is anything else they can do avoid injuries during play.
Have your child stretch and warm up before the game to help resist injuries.
Stretching is one of the best ways to resist and prevent injuries for athletes of all ages. That is because stretching can increase flexibility, pliability, and other important muscle traits. Most athletic trainers recommend stretching or warming up at least 15 minutes before their game or match begins.
Getting in a light warm up also helps to get any other muscles limber and your body ready to compete for an extended duration of time. Without proper warm ups or stretching your child is more likely to pull a muscle or experience a sprain.
Get your child a sports physical ASAP to identify injury risks and begin the sports season!
Most public and private schools require students to get a sport or camp physical whenever they want to enroll in a recreational program or sports season. But did you know that a sport physical also helps to prevent injuries or unexpected medical events during the year?
A sports physical helps coaches, medical staff, and trainers identify potential injury risks for your child. If your child has any health concerns, then your child’s coaches and athletic personnel can help to create the safest athletic environment for your child!
Know first-aid basics and take your child to urgent care for a sports injury
First-aid basics such as bandaging wounds, disinfecting lacerations, and stabilizing sprains can help reduce pain or the severity of injuries before proper medical treatment. Community organizations such as police and fire departments usually provide first-aid training courses if you want to get a full certification.
However, if your child does experience an injury and you don’t know first aid, then make sure to flag down the appropriate medical/athletic trainer before taking them to a nearby urgent care center. Urgent care is a more convenient option for non-emergency injuries such as bruises, bone brakes, and lacerations.