As
the popularity of year-round youth sports continues to grow,
kids have an increased risk for the types of injuries that plague
professional athletes — especially since their still-developing
bodies aren’t as strong as those of adults.
“Back in the day, kids would play one sport, take a break,
then switch to another activity,” says Jeff McDaniel, MD, sports
medicine physician at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center.
“Today there’s a big push for kids to specialize. Year-round sports
allow students to hone skills, but they can also lead to repetitive-
motion injuries that can cause long-term problems.”
To avoid over-use injuries, Mansfield ISD athletic trainer Eric
White suggests taking a realistic look at your child’s calendar.
“You have to allow time to recover,” White says. “If you
realize your student’s schedule has back-to-back practices,
games, or tournaments for months on end,
something needs to be adjusted.”
In addition to giving your children an
off-season, White and Dr. McDaniel offer
these tips:
Talk to your child’s doctor.
Preseason sports physicals
are excellent opportunities
to ask the doctor about
injury prevention.
Mansfield ISD student-
athletes (from left) Sara
Scott, Mason Miller, Connor
Ellington, Ryan Woolridge,
and Xariah Williams
SPORTS SMARTS
Help your child make a healthy start this year. Like us on
Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get more back-to-
school tips:
Warm up and cool down.
Encourage your child to stretch
before and after workouts, even when the coach isn’t around.
Get the right gear.
Ask your child’s coach about proper fittings
for helmets, kneepads, mouth guards, and other protective gear.
Hydrate and nourish.
Remind your student that it’s
impossible to out-train a poor diet. Water and nutritious
foods provide energy for athletic performance and keep
young bodies strong and less likely to be injured.
Know the signs of heat illness.
If your child feels
nauseated, disoriented, or dizzy during an outdoor workout,
it’s time to get inside. Ask your child’s coach about the team’s
heat-related policies.
Speak up.
Remind your child that it’s okay to talk to the
coach or to you if something hurts.
Health tips for your student-athlete
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Methodist Mansfield Medical Center
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Fall 2014
SPORTS INJURIES
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