While there is a certain amount of risk involved in participatory sports, parents, coaches and program supervisors share the ultimate responsibility for providing maximum safety in a healthy playing climate. A balanced, well-managed sports environment provides a fertile ground for the child’s natural growth and development, physically, emotionally and socially.

Even in the safest of settings accidents happen and children may get hurt. Knowing the types of injuries commonly sustained as well as why and how children get hurt, will enlighten parents, coaches, and other responsible parties to seek preventive safety measures, and help reduce the incidence of injury.

What are the most common sports injuries to children:

Sprains, strains, contusions, abrasions, and lacerations make up 60 percent of all sports injuries to children. Surprisingly, fractures account for less than 15 percent of injuries. As a general rule the younger the child, the less severe the injury. However, it is also true that the more rapidly children grow, the more susceptible they are to injury at bone growth sites. (knee, heel, shoulder, elbow, hip and back)

What are the causes of sports injuries in children:

Given the spontaneous nature of children, their limited degree of agility and the controlled chaos of children’s play, it is not surprising that falls twists and collisions, will inevitably result in strains and sprains, bruises and abrasions. There are some sports that yield specific injuries such as Gymnastics, Soccer and Baseball.

Soccer players who are hit by the ball, fall and come into contact with other players, often suffer from sprains, bruises, knee, ankle and shin injuries.

Gymnastics is growing in popularity with training starting as early as age 3. Although the risk of injury seems proportionate to the skill of the athlete, the greatest number of injuries occur during floor exercises and tumbling, with other injuries resulting from upsets on the balance beam and uneven parallel bars. The most common injuries to gymnasts are spinal injuries

A characteristic complaint of single-sport athletes, particularly baseball players is that the injury is directly related to the frequency and intensity of the pitch. “Little League Elbow” results in pain, stiffness and reduced range of motion. Swimmers and skaters may also be at risk for developing an overuse syndrome because of repetitive stress on particular joints.

How can my chiropractor help?

The role of the Chiropractor is crucial in preventing sports injuries in children. Prior to any sports involvement, the child should undergo a Pre-Participation Evaluation. This consists of a routine medical history and physical examination with emphasis on a neuromusculoskeletal evaluation. All of which are helpful in determining the readiness factor of the child for the sport in question.

The examination may uncover special medical problems that may prevent the child from participating in sports. Additionally such an evaluation should indicate which activities are more suited to a child with special medical considerations such as juvenile diabetes or asthma and previous sports injuries or other clinical problems that may prevent the child from participating in sports.

How else can I protect my child against sports injuries.

Although parents may not be able to soften the blow from an athletic injury, they can minimize serious injury by taking some basic preventative measures.

• Determine the child’s physical maturation level and match the child’s size with an appropriate sport. Most competitive children’s sports are organized according to chronological age rather than physical skill or maturation. Slower maturing children are often at greater risk of injury because they are competing with peers who may be larger and physically more developed.
• De-emphasize winning. When it comes to sports, children primarily want to have fun. Secondarily they may want to win. Parents who emphasize winning, place undue stress on children and rob them of the joy of simply participating.
• A child who is stressed, who is trying to meet parents’ and coaches’ unrealistic expectations are more susceptible to injury than a child who enters the playing arena with the confidence that comes from positive and encouraging adult attitudes.

Remember that overused injuries can be caused or aggravated by:

• Growth spurts
• Inadequate warm up
• Excessive activity – for example, increased intensity, duration or frequency
• Improper technique

Unsuitable equipment for example, non-supportive athletic shoes.Another common sports injury is reinjury. Reinjury occurs when you return to the sport before an injury has sufficiently healed. You are at a much greater risk for reinjury when recovery isn’t complete. Returning to the playing field before you have completely healed, places stress upon the injury and forces the body to compensate for the weakness which may put the person at greater risk for injuring another body part.

Summing up

Sports involvement is one way children can implement fitness as an integral component of their lifestyle. To be successful, the elements of the child/sports equation must add up to fun, fitness and safety. Parents, coaches, sponsors, and chiropractors must actively help to create an esteem-building experience that will be memorable for the child long past the moment of play.