Playing sport is a part of healthy development in children. However, sometimes, sports can lead to injury yet there are ways to help minimise sports injuries in children. In this blog we discuss how.
Encourage a Variety of Sports
It’s important for children to change the sports they are participating in, so they are not putting stress on the same muscles and joints day-in day-out. Muscle overuse can lead to injuries.
Talk with your child
Encourage an open conversation about pain and injuries. It is important that your child comes to you and tells you when their body doesn’t feel right. Playing sports in pain can turn a minor injury into something more sinister.
Always Warm Up
Making stretching a habit for your child is an important technique to help prevent injury before sports. Static and dynamic warmups will loosen their muscles and prepare them for the activity.
Rest is Important
Fatigue and lack of rest between activities can put your child at a higher risk of injury. When children don’t have adequate rest, they become more prone to overuse injuries.
Hydration
It must be stressed to children that hydration before, during and after play is an important part of playing sports, especially in the summer months. Signs of a heat-related illness include fatigue, nausea, vomiting, confusion or fainting.
The Right Shoes
To help prevent sports injuries in children, it is important for them to have the correct shoes for the sport they are participating in. For example, if they are running, they would need different shoes to the ones they would use if they were playing basketball or tennis. The correct shoes mean they have adequate support or flexibility in the shoes to prevent injury.
Correct Technique
Enforcing the correct technique in sports is crucial to ensure injury is avoided. For example, football players should be taught the proper way to tackle an opponent to avoid a concussion.
Recognise Injury Early
If you notice a change in your child during sports, such as a limping, hobbling or rubbing a leg, they should address it immediately to prevent injury or further injury.
Moreland Podiatry – Prevent Sports Injuries in Children
If your child has recently taken up a new sport and you want more advice on how to prevent injuries and to buy the correct footwear, contact Moreland Podiatry on (03) 9383 6633 or make an appointment online.
Recent Comments