We’re now deep into the school year, and many children are engaging in sports and various types of activities. It’s a good time, then, to revisit some of those steps that might be taken to make sure that a child isn’t subject to a debilitating injury resulting from habits picked up at school or on the field of play. A series of tips from the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors is important to consider.
When it comes to sports, ACLs and concussions have drawn a large share of media attention in recent months and years. These and other types of strains, tears, and fractures need to be taken seriously, and prevention should be the name of the game. Coaches should put together fitness programs that develop strength in those areas most susceptible to harm. They can also stress balance when athletes would otherwise favor one portion of the body over the other.
With concussions, it’s important to coach how to make impacts in a way that doesn’t increase exposure. Wearing the right equipment can further reduce the risk. But we must also realize that a concussion could still happen anyway, which is why education on the signs to look out for needs to come to the fore. Any child suspected of having a concussion must be pulled from a game or activity and not allowed to come back in until they’ve gotten a thorough assessment from a qualified health professional.
On the other hand, failing to take part in sports and other types of physical actions can also increase the risk of an injury. Injury risks go hand in hand with an over-reliance on technology, with children exposed to more screens in their everyday life than at any other point in history. A healthy diet and rules about going outside and staying active can help alleviate the risk, as can placing limits on screen exposure. Instead of allowing children to be in their rooms or draped over a chair with a tablet or smartphone, their bodies contorted into increasingly uncomfortable positions, there should be a designated space or an upper limit to the time the devices can be used.
That ties right into posture, as a child who slumps down in a chair to play a smartphone game will likely carry that same stature over to when they’re standing up. If you’re concerned about your child’s posture, ask them to stand up how they normally would and take note of any imbalance or slouching. Tell them to try to correct this on their own, and if it doesn’t work, consider scheduling an appointment with a specialist. Have him or her limit the number of things they carry in their backpacks to further improve back health.
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