Top Tips to Keep Kids Healthy and Prevent Sports Injuries This Summer
In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports. More than 3.5 million injuries each year, which cause some loss of time of participation, are experienced by the participants. Fortunately, there are many steps that you as a parent can take to limit your child's risk of getting injured during a practice or a game. Here are just a few proactive tips for parents to help prevent their child from getting injured this athletic season.
Practice Proper Stretching/Warm-Ups
More than 775,000 children, ages 14 and younger, are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities. With that in mind, there's a reason why stretching and warming up properly are stressed so significantly for both childhood athletes all the way through to the pros. These strategies are proven methods that help to reduce injury rates across various sports and age groups. Proper stretching and warming up consists of both static stretches (toe-touches and other 'holding' positions) and dynamic stretches (jumping jacks and other moving stretches).
Don't Fight Fatigue
Though it's true that 'pushing yourself' helps you to grow as an athlete, it's important to ensure proper resting periods for all athletes in between games, practices, and other athletic events. The most common injuries result from overuse, which means they're completely preventable. Don't push your child to participate in sports year-round, either. It's essential for them to have the off-season to have a significant resting period before the next season.
Communicate and Practice Healthy Habits
Finally, part of injury prevention comes from simply communicating with your child about their risks and best healthy habits. Make sure they understand why it's important for them to stretch properly and rest between games -- otherwise, they may have to learn the hard way, after an injury occurs. Similarly, finding the right chiropractor and getting your child involved in ongoing chiropractic treatment can help to keep injuries at bay.
More than 3.5 million children ages 14 and younger get hurt annually playing sports or participating in recreational activities. If an injury does occur, remember to talk to a chiropractor to discuss your best course of action. For more information about quality chiropractic care and other types of chiropractic treatment, contact Garden State Spinal Care.
