With the start of the school year comes the start of the school sports calendar. Football, soccer, basketball, volleyball, even dance classes… No matter what the activity, organized athletics are a fabulous outlet for kids and teens. Sports exercise the body and teach the importance of teamwork. However, they also carry a risk of injuries.

The Two Most Common Sport-Related Injuries

Pediatricians see two main types of injuries caused by school sports. These injuries are classified as acute injuries and overuse injuries.

Acute Injuries – likely to be inflicted in contact sports such as football, basketball, and soccer:
• Concussions
• Sprains and strains
• Bruises
• Fractures
• Dislocations

Overuse Injuries – likely to be inflicted in activities such as track and field, baseball, swimming, weight lifting, and dance:
• Tendinitis
• Stress fractures
• Recurrent joint pain

Tips for Avoiding Sports Injuries

What children aren’t capable of understanding is how much the human body is like a machine. When people age, this fact becomes apparent as the machine begins to malfunction, much like an old car. Unfortunately it’s not as easy to replace malfunctioning parts of the human body as it is with a car. It is vital to teach children to maintain their bodies and and avoid sport injuries at all cost.

Drink lots of water

Water is the lubricant that keeps all our parts working together as they should, but kids often forget to take the time to hydrate. Teens should drink 10-15 ounces of water before exercise, and water breaks should be scheduled every 20 minutes.

Guard against overuse

“No pain, no gain” is an inadequate battle cry and doesn’t do a child any good. Exercise should not be accompanied by actual pain. The discomfort of pushing oneself just a little bit farther is fine, but pain is a warning signal that should not be ignored, especially when it comes from joints. Joints that are abused can create lifelong pain and lead to eventual joint replacement surgery.

Runners, dancers, baseball pitchers, and other young athletes of this type are particularly susceptible to overuse injuries. A good rule of thumb is to increase the workout gradually (no more than 20% per week), which will help build toward the ultimate goal. As for swimmers, it’s best to start with 50laps per week and then increase the number of laps by 10 each week. Alternating workouts is also very helpful.

Stretch. Stretch. Stretch.

Stretching is so important that it bears repeating. Here’s why:
• Improves flexibility
• Decreases risk of injury
• Enables joints to move through the full-range of motion, which ultimately improves athletic performance
• Improves circulation within the muscles
• Improves posture

Whether a child is serious about sports or just playing around, it’s important to understand how to “maintain the machine.” A proper maintenance routine will prevent the risk of school sport injuries and help to avoid the effects of life-long pain.