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Sports injuries affect nearly 3.2 million student athletes every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). If your child is planning on participating in any sports this upcoming spring or related recreational activity, then it will help to understand the main types of sports injuries your child could experience.
The good news about most injuries is that they are highly preventable with a few steps. These steps include:
- Providing adequate athletic equipment for your child and making sure that all gear fits appropriately. Talk with a coach or trainer if your child is experiencing problems with their gear.
- Stretching before a game helps to reduce all types of injuries.
- Learning defensive skills such as proper contact, stopping on skates, or falling safely can greatly reduce the prevalence of sports injuries.
- Getting adequate rest before and after an athletic event
As you can see, sports injuries are highly preventable and should not influence you or your child’s decision to partake in after-school sports. But it is important to understand what types of injures are the most common to help evaluate the severity of an injury.
Ankle and leg injures
The most common type of sport injury includes both ankle and leg injuries since all sports or recreational events require movement and lower body activity.
In extreme cases, an athlete can experience a leg injury known as an ACL tear which requires surgery and several months of physical therapy. Make sure to properly ice and rest lower body injuries to help manage treatment
Hip, knee, and groin injuries
Injuries to the hip or knee are also common and especially during contact sports. A hip or knee injury may likely include bruises, swelling, or a hip flexor sprain. The best course of treatment is usually ice and adequate rest post injury, but in rare cases your child may need physical therapy for more severe injuries.
Head injuries
Head injuries including concussions may sometimes happen during youth sports as well. Contact sports like football are more likely to result in a head injury than other sports. If your child experiences a head injury, then make sure that get plenty of rest and are evaluated by a medical provider for a possible concussion.
If your child has a concussion, make sure to follow the doctor’s guidelines on how to rest effectively and treat it. In addition, make sure that your child does not participate in the sport until their concussion fully heals.
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