Injury Prevention: What is it?

 Injury prevention is an effort to cut down or reduce injuries, mild or severe, caused by external forces, such as accidents, before they occur. More children in the U.S. are playing sports, which can mean a higher risk of bodily injuries. Sports can help keep the body fit and make you feel good, however, there are some tips to reduce the chance of suffering an injury that may have been prevented: (1) take an appropriate amount of time off so the body can heal completely,(2) wearing the correct fitting gear and protective equipment (braces, helmets, pads, etc.), having strong muscles by exercising with weights or resistance bands, including cardio, (3) increasing flexibility by performing a proper warm-up and cool-down before starting and ending all exercise programs, (4) using the proper technique while exercising, (5) taking breaks throughout your exercise program and never playing through pain, (6) avoid heat illnesses by properly hydrating before exercising, and drinking water during exercises.

The most common types of injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments), strains (injuries to muscles and tendons), and fractures (injuries to bones). Injury occurs when excessive force is applied on muscle and tendons, ligaments, joints and bones. In children, point tenderness over a joint of bone should be evaluated by a medical professional even with minimal swelling, due to their age. Injuries not evaluated by a healthcare professional may cause a delay in growth, and may cause future problems.    

Sometimes, the pressure to win in youth sports can cause emotional stress which can lead to lying about an injury to avoid competing. Many coaches and parents consider winning as the most important aspect of sports, instead of sportsmanship and hard work. The main goal of sports to help play together, having fun, and learning how to overcome adversity and increase their physical activity levels. 

 

*Article from the Sports Injury Prevention Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics, March 16th, 2017*