As a parent, it’s normal to be worried about falls and other accidents. Kids are clumsy, rambunctious, and almost always on the move! It’s hard not to worry about them getting injured. Physical Therapy can help to prevent sports-related pediatric injuries.
Mark Their Words Therapy Services in Clarksville, TN wants to assist you in preventing as many injuries as possible, so we’ve put together this blog with preventative measures for keeping your child healthy and active.
Give us a call today to schedule an appointment!
Six preventative measures for keeping your child healthy
The good news is that there are several things you can monitor and adjust in your child’s life to keep them healthy and aid in preventing them from sustaining injuries!
Diet and nutrition
- Encourage your child to consume a nutritious diet made up of organic, healthy ingredients.
- Make sure your little one stays hydrated with plenty of water. It’s also a good idea to ensure they maintain a steady electrolyte balance.
Education on common play and sports injuries
- Children may “play through the pain” or not acknowledge common injury signs. These actions may place them at risk of making a relatively mild condition more serious.
- Recognizing a possible sprain or stress fracture is key to getting immediate care and resolution so that they may go back to play.
- Teaching your child to address pain and dysfunction early is critical.
Proper warm-up and cool-down methods
- Children are excited to get into the game and tend to be in a rush to get into practices – and just as anxious to get out of them when they’re finished. However, participating in athletics without first warming up may lead to preventable injuries.
- A cardiovascular warm-up such as jogging with some gentle stretching may be all that is needed to avoid these issues. After the exercise, a cool down and stretch routine also helps the tissues recover from their workout.
Encourage safe play
- Even the most physically fit children will get into trouble if they disregard safe play guidelines. Appropriate use of helmets and other protective gear is key—be sure it fits your child well and is worn correctly.
- Proper sports technique is another important consideration. For example, the wrong bat, racket, or golf club technique can quickly lead to shoulder strains, elbow tendonitis, back pain, and other problems which may require physical therapy.
- Outside group lessons or a private coach can be an adjunct opportunity to instill the proper technique.
Prepare your child with physical therapy sessions to prevent sports-related pediatric injuries
- A healthy and flexible body is important for avoiding sports or play accidents. If you have concerns about your child’s readiness for play, we can help with a physical therapy evaluation.
- Our physical therapists will assess your child’s balance, agility, gait, strength, and range of motion. Specific physical therapy interventions may be recommended.
Please contact Mark Their Words Therapy Services in Clarksville, TN. We would love to discuss how we can help your child!
How can pediatric physical therapy help my child avoid injuries and prevent sports-related pediatric injuries?
The American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy offers six pillars that can guide parents and physical therapists. These pillars include prevention, acute management, and return to play. We hope to be part of the prevention, but we can provide immediate care if your child is injured during everyday play or sports. As part of that post-injury care, we include education on preventing further injury. This education is valuable not only for your family but can be shared with your child’s camp, school, and sports groups.
Parents know their children best and can guide physical therapists in assisting with injury prevention. We want to help you help your child.
If you think your child has muscle weakness or other functional limitations, physical therapy can help! Our pediatric physical therapists will assess your child’s balance, agility, posture, gait, muscle power, and range of motion.
We can help your child in a variety of ways, including the following
- Demonstrating safe play.
- Providing proper warm-up and cool-down techniques.
- Educating you and your child on common injuries for their sport.
- Discussing the importance of adequate nutrition.
- Designing a treatment plan for injury prevention.
Ready, set, go…let’s get ready to play and prevent sports-related pediatric injuries!
You want your child to have fun, be a kid, and participate fully in the sports they love. We want to work with you and your child to make physical activity safe and fun.
Give Mark Their Words Therapy Services in Clarksville, TN a call! We are ready to help your child hit it out of the field, make that goal, or simply enjoy their playtime.
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Tags: Pediatric Physical Therapist, Child healthcare, Sports injuries, Diet and nutrition, Child Development, Pediatric Physical Therapy, Pain Free
