Having active children is both fun and exhausting! Encouraging their love for sports by driving them to all of their camps, clinics and tournaments is rewarding but keeps families incredibly busy.

But what happens when your child accidentally gets hurt while on the field? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Farragut sees sports injuries quite often, and we know exactly how to approach each injury. Read on to learn about some of the more common injuries and how we can help!

Is My Child’s Sport High-Risk?

When it comes to risk associated with sports, the most obvious answer is to focus on the highest contact sports like football or basketball. While it is true that these highly competitive and close-contact sports carry a higher risk of injury, even the lowest or non-contact sports can cause issues.

Did you know that around 700 high school bowlers each year report injuries while bowling for their bowling teams? Regardless of the activities your child chooses to participate in, there is always a chance of experiencing one of these injuries below.

Common Injuries We Encounter

• Sprains and strains: This is by far the most common injury as frequent twisting and pivoting is common in a lot of sports.
• Overuse injuries: Sports that require a constant motion produce these injuries, like baseball pitchers.
• Stress fractures: This injury occurs when the muscle can no longer support the repetitive action, so tiny breaks occur along the bone. Sprinters and other track athletes suffer from these often.
• Head or neck: Football produces many head and neck injuries, and these should be taken seriously every single time as they can become severe.

What Can I Do to Help My Child Prevent Injury?

Before your child’s season even begins, visit us for a sports physical. Our staff can ensure that your child is ready and well enough to participate.

After that, staying hydrated and eating well is recommended, as well as properly warming up and stretching your muscles before beginning any activity. It’s also essential for your child to wear sport-specific safety equipment and to use proper technique.

How to Treat an Injury

• Practice the RICE method—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevate. Each step in this acronym is important in reducing swelling and preventing further injury.
• Monitor for any more severe symptoms like a bruise that won’t heal.
• Stop by for a visit to be seen by our team. We can take some X-rays to get a better idea of the extent of the injury.

Did your child recently suffer a sports-related injury? Visit our AFC team to get an X-ray—no appointment necessary!