Now that fall sports are back in swing, and indeed have been for a few weeks in some areas, the risk of injury is going to become greater as practice gets ratcheted up and coaches begin to push kids into more intensive exercise. There are numerous ways to prevent an injury from taking place amid such conditions, and a new report explains how to do so.
Although most sports leagues have indeed already started, there’s always the possibility that a child isn’t ready for a given sport or doesn’t want to play. When he or she is pushed to participate, they’re less inclined to take safety seriously. Parents should be willing to listen to their children about concerns they have. If a child is less than inclined to participate, sometimes that sport simply isn’t right for them. Specialization at an early age can also lead to this type of burnout or lack of interest, and thus kids should be encouraged to pursue those other things that also interest them.
As the sports season starts, student athletes need a foundation with which to build out the rest of their exercise regimen, and proper stretching provides that basis. It’s important to take stretching as seriously as every other part of a workout. Stretching muscles adequately can keep an athlete from experiencing a muscle strain or tear.
When kids do stretch, they should be instructed to hold the stretch rather than moving back and forth in a bouncing manner. You also can’t get the requisite amount of limberness when a position is held for only a second or two. Kids should be comfortable in the stretch; they shouldn’t feel intense pain, but rather a little bit of tension. Once student athletes get into the habit of stretching, they can put those activities into action whenever they engage in any physical activity. Their longterm health can be improved when they take these steps well into their adult lives.
Of course, that’s just preparation for the activity to come; depending on the sport your child takes place in, he or she will need to put on the appropriate equipment in order to stave off injury. For football and some other sports, that’s going to mean a helmet in order to reduce the risk of a concussion.
But safety doesn’t end with just the helmet. Things like pads, braces, and wraps can all be used to protect a student athlete from a serious injury. Even a decent pair of running shoes may have a large role to play in reducing running injuries. Coaches should be able to inform parents and students as to the right type of gear and parents should heed recommendations and go beyond the minimum requirements.
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