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Sports 101

Ensure your student athletes are
ready for the season.

F

or many kids, playing sports
is an important part of grow-
ing up, and that's a good thing.
Sports are a great way for children and
adolescents to develop lifelong exercise
habits, build relationships, and learn
teamwork.
"Parents can play a vital role in ensur-
ing young athletes train and condition
properly," says Dr. James M. Perrin, 2014
president of the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP). "From staying hydrat-
ed to wearing safety gear, kids may need
periodic reminders"
Here are ways to help your child avoid
common sports hazards:

Condition
Athletes will reduce their risk of injury
by strengthening muscles to protect
vulnerable ligaments. This is especially
important in certain sports — including
soccer, football, basketball, volleyball,
gymnastics and lacrosse — in which ath-
letes are prone to injuring their anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL), which provides
stability to the knee.
Girls need to be especially careful,
according to statistics. Adolescent girls
are four to eight times more likely to suf-
fer ACL injuries than boys, according to
the AAP.
Neuromuscular training programs that
strengthen hips, the core muscles and
hamstrings can significantly reduce one's
risk for injury. This training will help
athletes improve their form and have a
greater awareness of how to safely pivot,
jump and land.

Stay Hydrated
Water is the best way for kids to stay
hydrated while playing or exercising.
Sports and energy drinks are heavily
marketed to children and adolescents,
but in most cases kids don't need them
— and some of these products contain
ingredients that could be harmful to
children.
Sports drinks that contain carbohy-
drates and electrolytes can be helpful for

young athletes engaged in prolonged,
vigorous exercise, but in most cases
they're unnecessary. Plain water is usu-
ally best, as sports drinks contain extra
calories and sugar. Energy drinks, which
contain stimulants like caffeine, are not
healthy for children or teens, according
to the AAP.
Read the label to know exactly what
you're giving your child. When in doubt,
stick to water.

Protect Your Head
Because young athletes' brains are
still developing, it's important to take
head injuries seriously. Adolescent
concussions can cause long-term brain
injury. If your young athlete sustains
a concussion, he or she should be
evaluated by a physician and receive
medical clearance before returning to
play. While concussion symptoms usu-
ally resolve in seven to 10 days, some
athletes may take weeks or months to
recover, and some students may need
accommodations at school during this
recovery.

Don't Overdo It
The most common type of sports inju-
ry is from overuse. Ignoring pain can
worsen the injury and cause long-term
damage.
"The best way for parents to prevent
overuse injuries is to pay attention to
their child's training schedule: Perrin
says.
Limit your child to a single sport
or team per season, and the training
schedule to no more than five days
per week. Alternating sports can help
avoid burnout.
While sports are an important part
of childhood with critical health ben-
efits, parents, coaches and athletes
should work together to make sure
children participate safely.

❑

More sports safety tips can be found at

www.HealthyChildren.org. Story courtesy of

StatePoint.

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August 21 • 2014

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