Preventing Sports Injuries- Nemours Sports Medicine Advice from the Pros

More teens and young children are competing in sports than ever before.
But all sports have a potential for injury - and athletes who are still growing are especially at risk for injury because growing bones are not able to withstand the same stress as adult bones.
Overuse of a muscle, ligament or tendon is the cause of about half of all sports injuries in children.

Contact sport injury risks increase when players of different sizes play together.
Young children - especially those 8 and under - are less coordinated and have slower reaction times than adults.

Young athletes also don’t judge injury risks as well as adults.

Here are guidelines to help reduce the risks of sports injuries.

- Choose a sport that’s age appropriate for your child’s size and maturity.
- Use the right equipment and safety gear in the proper size for your child.
- Choose a sport that’s supervised by qualified adults and leagues committed to safety.
And restrict play to appropriate, well-maintained surfaces.

Holes and ruts can cause kids to fall or trip; surfaces such as tracks and wooden basketball courts can be more forgiving than concrete.
[5-7] Also, make sure your child is prepared to play.

You wouldn’t send a child who can’t swim to a pool, so make sure your child knows how to play the sport before going onto the field.

- You can guard against overuse injuries by having your child try a variety of activities.
- Avoid over-training in one sport or playing multiple sports in the same season.
- And take at least one day off each week to allow your child’s body to recover.
- Remember to seek medical help for a traumatic injury or an overuse injury when pain persists.
- And lastly, avoid re-injury by having your child rest until an injury is completely healed.
While sports injuries aren’t completely preventable, you can still help your child stay in the game by being proactive about safety.
Visit https://www.nemours.org/content/nemou...
for more
or contact the Center for Sports Medicine at:
(302) 298-7200
[email protected]