Richardson ISD student-athletes (from left)
Selena Duncan, Kara Marschewski, J.R. Griffin,
and Robert Johnson
PLAY SMART
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Health tips for your student-athlete
SPORTS INJURIES
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Between
school athletics, club sports, and all-star leagues, kids have
more opportunities than ever to build up an arsenal of skills — but with
those opportunities come increased risks for injury.
“It used to be that kids would play one sport in the fall, take a break,
and then pick up another sport in the spring,” says Christopher
Hanssen, MD, orthopedic physician at Methodist Richardson
Medical Center. “Now there’s lots of opportunity — and even
some pressure — for kids to play one sport year-round. Sports
specialization has a lot of benefits, but it also means that
kids are more likely to develop repetitive-motion types of
injuries that can cause long-term problems.”
To avoid overuse injuries, Dr. Hanssen suggests getting
hold of your child’s calendar and building in time for breaks.
“Back-to-back practices, games, and tournaments don’t allow time
for recovery,” he says. “Athletes need time to rest just as much as they
need time to train. If you think your child might be overbooked, it’s
probably time to consider opting out of an activity or two.”
Besides taking time to rest, Dr. Hanssen offers these tips for
young athletes:
Talk to your child’s doctor.
Preseason sports physicals are excellent
opportunities to ask your doctor about injury prevention.
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.
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Methodist Richardson Medical Center
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Fall 2014
