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Sports Injuries and
Children
©
Copyright 2003-2007 Dr. Krisjan M. Gustavson.
Please
ask permission
to reproduce.
While there
is a certain amount of risk involved in participatory
sports, parents, coaches and program supervisors share the
ultimate responsibility for providing maximum safety in a
healthy playing climate. A balanced, well-managed sports
environment provides a fertile ground for the child’s
natural growth and development, physically, emotionally and
socially.
Even in the
safest of settings accidents happen and children may get
hurt. Knowing the types of injuries commonly sustained as
well as why and how children get hurt, will enlighten
parents, coaches, and other responsible parties to seek
preventive safety measures, and help reduce the incidence of
injury.
What are
the most common sports injuries to children:
Sprains,
strains, contusions, abrasions, and lacerations make up 60
percent of all sports injuries to children. Surprisingly,
fractures account for less than 15 percent of injuries. As a
general rule the younger the child, the less severe the
injury. However, it is also true that the more rapidly
children grow, the more susceptible they are to injury at
bone growth sites. (knee, heel, shoulder, elbow, hip and
back)
What are
the causes of sports injuries in children:
Given the
spontaneous nature of children, their limited degree of
agility and the controlled chaos of children’s play, it
is not surprising that falls twists and collisions, will
inevitably result in strains and sprains, bruises and
abrasions. There are some sports that yield specific
injuries such as Gymnastics, Soccer and Baseball.
Soccer
players who are hit by the ball, fall and come into contact
with other players, often suffer from sprains, bruises,
knee, ankle and shin injuries.
Gymnastics
is growing in popularity with training starting as early as
age 3. Although the risk of injury seems proportionate to
the skill of the athlete, the greatest number of injuries
occur during floor exercises and tumbling, with other
injuries resulting from upsets on the balance beam and
uneven parallel bars. The most common injuries to gymnasts
are spinal injuries
A
characteristic complaint of single-sport athletes,
particularly baseball players is that the injury is directly
related to the frequency and intensity of the pitch.
“Little League Elbow” results in pain, stiffness
and reduced range of motion. Swimmers and skaters may also
be at risk for developing an overuse syndrome because of
repetitive stress on particular joints.
How can
my chiropractor help?
The role of
the Chiropractor is crucial in preventing sports injuries in
children. Prior to any sports involvement, the child should
undergo a Pre-Participation Evaluation. This consists of a
routine medical history and physical examination with
emphasis on a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation. All of which
are helpful in determining the readiness factor of the child
for the sport in question.
The
examination may uncover special medical problems that may
prevent the child from participating in sports. Additionally
such an evaluation should indicate which activities are more
suited to a child with special medical considerations such
as juvenile diabetes or asthma and previous sports injuries
or other clinical problems that may prevent the child from
participating in sports.
How else
can I protect my child against sports
injuries.
Although
parents may not be able to soften the blow from an athletic
injury, they can minimize serious injury by taking some
basic preventative measures.
- Determine
the child’s physical maturation level and match the
child’s size with an appropriate sport. Most
competitive children’s sports are organized
according to chronological age rather than physical skill
or maturation. Slower maturing children are often at
greater risk of injury because they are competing with
peers who may be larger and physically more
developed.
- De-emphasize
winning. When it comes to sports, children
primarily want to have fun. Secondarily they may want to
win. Parents who emphasize winning, place undue stress on
children and rob them of the joy of simply participating.
- A child
who is stressed, who is trying to meet parents’ and
coaches’ unrealistic expectations are more
susceptible to injury than a child who enters the playing
arena with the confidence that comes from positive and
encouraging adult attitudes.
Remember
that overused injuries can be caused or aggravated
by:
- Growth
spurts
- Inadequate
warm up
- Excessive
activity – for example, increased intensity,
duration or frequency
- Improper
technique
Unsuitable
equipment for example, non-supportive athletic shoes.Another
common sports injury is reinjury. Reinjury occurs when you
return to the sport before an injury has sufficiently
healed. You are at a much greater risk for reinjury when
recovery isn’t complete. Returning to the playing field
before you have completely healed, places stress upon the
injury and forces the body to compensate for the weakness
which may put the person at greater risk for injuring
another body part.
Summing
up
Sports
involvement is one way children can implement fitness as an
integral component of their lifestyle. To be successful, the
elements of the child/sports equation must add up to fun,
fitness and safety. Parents, coaches, sponsors, and
chiropractors must actively help to create an
esteem-building experience that will be memorable for the
child long past the moment of play.
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