Youth Sports Injuries and prevention

Children all over the U.S. are participating in organized youth sports. With a great number of youth sports participants comes a great number of youth sports injuries. No matter what sport your child is playing, there is always a chance of injury, which is never fun for both parents and athletes.  As parents, it’s your job to take care of your children's health and well-being. Whether it’s a broken arm, finger or muscle strain, it’s important that parents are giving their children the attention and proper care to help them heal and get back to the game.  Warren Academy offers youth training programs in Omaha for all athletes who want to better develop their athleticism and game skills. When it comes to injuries in youth sports, there are a lot of questions that go through a parents head. Learn these important tips on what to do if your child gets hurt playing a sport and how you can help prevent this from happening in the future.  Most common injuries  Some of the most common injuries amongst youth sport athletes are ankle sprains, knee injuries and pain (including ACL tears), little league elbow, and other minor muscle sprains and strains. Of these injuries, knee pain is becoming more and more common in youth sport athletes. It’s also not uncommon for kids to break a bone here and there, especially if they are playing a sport that involves a lot of contact such as; football, basketball or soccer.  Injury prevention Prevention of injury in our young athletes starts at home. First, it’s important that your child is going to see a doctor for a preseason physical every year. Doing so will ensure you as a parent that your child can safely play whatever sport they are planning to play, and can also spot out any potential risks.  At home, there are many things parents can do. First off, talk with your child and ensure them they can come and talk to you if they are experiencing any type of pain at any time. Noticing an injury early will only get them back to playing and feeling better quicker. It’s also key that you stress the importance of properly warming up, which includes stretching. You can demonstrate different stretches at home, and promote stretching either in the morning, at night or both.  Also, as a parent, you should be providing your young athlete with a healthy and well-balanced diet at home. This includes promoting hydration, sleep and rest. These are all very important when it comes to preventing injuries.  Lastly, getting your children involved in youth training programs can help them grow and get stronger, which plays a huge part in injury prevention as well.  Recognizing Injuries  No one knows a child's movements and mannerisms like a parent. When you notice a change in your athlete’s technique and game, you should talk to your child and prevent them from playing for a little while. If these injuries persist, then going to the doctor would be a smart idea. Also, coaches will not always notice these differences like you do. For example, if your child is a baseball pitcher and has complained about arm pain and the coach is still playing him, it’s important that you talk to the coaches and notify them of the injury to prevent any additional damage.  If your young athlete is experiencing consistent pain and swelling, notify the coach and get him or her checked out by a doctor.  At Warren Academy, we value developing athletes from when they are young, through high school, and even college. Our youth training programs help youth athletes get stronger, faster, and overall boost athleticism. For more information about Warren Academy or any of the programs we offer, contact us today!