6 Useful Safety Tips to Prevent Sports Injuries in Young Athletes

“More than 3.5 million kids under age 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year. Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospitals. On average the rate and severity of injury increase with a child’s age.”

The parents must encourage children to participate in competitive and non-competitive sports to boost their mental and physical growth. But they must focus extensively on keeping the young athletes safe by guiding on a variety of sports injuries. The parents must remember that kids need relevant training to play a sport safely. Also, they must keep in mind a slew of hacks to make the child safe by preventing common sports injuries.

6 Simple Hacks to Prevent Sports Injuries in Young Athletes

1. Learn Rules of the Game

Often parents ignore the significance of making the kid learn and follow the rules of the game. They can easily keep the young athlete safe by making them learn and follow the rules of the game. The understanding will help the child to understand his role clearly and know what to expect from other players. However, it is also important for the parents to persuade the child to follow the rules on a regular basis.

2. Prepare the Body to Play

Often young athletes sustain injuries due to muscle sprains and muscle tears. They can easily prevent such injuries by releasing muscle tension before playing or practicing the game. It is always important for the children to prepare their bodies to play by stretching or jogging. The exercise will warm them up along with releasing muscle tension.

3. Wear the Right Protective Gear

Most young athletes sustain sports injuries due to not wearing appropriate protective wear. The protective wears differ according to the nature and type of sports. But most sports require athletes to wear helmets to keep their heads safe. However, it is important for the athlete to wear the right helmet according to the sports. The parents must inspect the sports gear regularly to ensure that they are in good condition.

4. Focus on Nutrition and Hydration

While exploring ways to keep the young athlete safe, the parents must focus extensively on both nutrition and hydration. When a child indulges in physical activities on a regular basis, it becomes essential for parents to keep their diet nutritious and balanced. The well-balanced diet will keep the child active by providing adequate energy. However, it is also important for the athlete to stay hydrated during practice or game. He must drink adequate water 30 minutes before indulging in physical activities.

5. Don’t Forget to Cool Down After the Game

As mentioned earlier, the young athlete must warm-up for the game by performing simple exercises like stretching and jogging. However, it is also important for him to cool down properly after every game or practice session. The cooling down process requires more time than the warming up process. But the cooling down process will keep the child relaxed and prepare him for the next practice session.

6. Allow the Athlete’s Body to Recover

The chances of sports injuries increase drastically when a child indulges in sports and physical activities on a regular basis. The parents must encourage the kid to take breaks or offs at regular intervals. The young athlete must take at least one day off every week. Also, he needs to sleep long hours without any interruptions during both games and practices. The breaks and rest will allow the child’s body to recover and stay fit.

In addition to exploring ways to prevent sports injuries in young athletes, the parents must focus on treating common acute sports injuries early and properly. They must consult a skilled orthopedic surgeon without any delay to get the inured young athletes back on the field as early as possible. It is always important for parents to contact an orthopedic surgeon who has adequate experience in treating kids’ sports injuries.

Dr. Soumya Paik, MBBS (KOL)(HONS), MS.Ortho (SSKM), DNB (Ortho) MNAMS, Gold Medalist, is leading specialist in Kolkata, India for kids’ sports injury treatment & rehabilitation management. If your child is suffering from a partial or complete injury from sports, get in touch with Dr. Paik at his Kids Orthopedic Clinic today. You can also give us a call at “+91 9051148463” or email us at “drsoumyapaik@gmail.com” to book an appointment.

Kids Orthopedic Clinic Address:
Kids Orthopedic Clinic
53C/15, Ground Floor, Dr. Suresh Chandra Banerjee Road,
Beliaghata PS, Kolkata,
West Bengal, India
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