For the past couple of weeks, our Pediatric Sports Conditions series has covered the rise in pediatric and adolescent sports injuries, their causes, and possible steps to prevent or reduce these injuries. This week I would like to go over injury prevention and how to address other issues affecting child athletes in more detail.
Safe Sports Practices for Children
A big part of preventing injuries is to implement sports-specific, proper training of athletes to improve poor techniques and mechanics. Respecting child athletes’ physical limitations by being mindful of practice and competition scheduling intensity is another vital aspect of sports safety.
Encouraging participation in multiple sports is a good way to avoid early specialization. Still, the right balance must be achieved between diversifying activity and overwhelming young athletes with too many sports at once. Be careful in your selection of games and account for timing to ensure active children have an offseason to allow their bodies to rest and prevent overuse injuries.
Keeping Both Minds and Bodies Healthy
In addition to the physical stresses experienced by the athletes, be aware of the psychological demands young athletes are under to succeed in their sports. These mental stressors originate from many sources – from within, coaches, parents, and peers – and must be monitored closely. A certain level of stress may be helpful for motivation, but children should not feel overwhelmed with pressure to perform.
The different physical stresses can compound with each other, as can the various psychological stresses. These two categories of stressors can cooccur, potentially leading to a physical or psychological breakdown but can be avoided by paying attention to both the physical and emotional needs of young athletes.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s sports involvement or teams they play on, reach out to your local SET Physical Therapy for more information.
Note: The information in this series originally appeared in “Injuries in the Pediatric Athlete: Etiology and Strategies for Prevention,” which Chana Frommer co-authored.
