Youth sports have become very popular. According to a rough estimate, around 40-45 million
American kids actively participate in youth sports every year. According to CDC (Center for Disease Control), over 2 million of these kids wind up in emergency rooms each year.
Most sports injuries are very common and can be helped with simple measures. However, since there can be several
types of complications, it is always advisable to take the child to a medicalpractitioner.
Ligament
Injury
A fall, stretch or jerk can injure the ligament. While a
serious ligament injury can be very painful and may take time to heal, most
common form of ligament injury is sprain, like an ankle sprain.
When a sprain occurs, the part
where the ligament is injured may become stiff and swollen. The child may have
extreme pain moving it. As the sprain occurs, wrap an
ice pack or cold compress in a towel and place it on the affected area
immediately. Do not apply ice directly, as the child
may get frost bite. Rush the child to a medical practitioner immediately to get
the sprain checked and get further investigations done if required.
Heat Exhaustion
Since most of the sports are played outside, during
summers, children are susceptible to heat sickness. When playing outside, it is
highly recommended that children be kept fully hydrated. But sometimes, the
heat just gets too overwhelming. The common symptoms
of heat exhaustion are
dizziness, headache, nausea, dilated pupils, decreased pulse count and
fainting.
If a player gets a bout of heat exhaustion, lay the child
down and elevate feet lightly. Remove heavy or tight clothing to make the body
light. Have the child drink water, preferably mixed
with sugar and salt, or any other non-alcoholic and non-caffeinated beverage.
Spray or sponge the child’s body with cold water and fan her to keep her cool.
Take the child to a medical practitioner to ascertain the child is well and the stroke is not too severe. Heat sickness can be
life threatening, ensure the child gets proper medical care.
Tendon
Injury
Sometimes, due to over exposure, tendons or the muscle
tissue that attaches a muscle to the bone, may get inflamed or injured. This
can be very painful. Apply ice pack as the injury
occurs, and seek medical help immediately. This type of injury may require a break from physical activity, duration of which a doctor
may advise.
Head Trauma
Any injury that occurs on the head should be taken
seriously. It can be a concussion. A concussion can result in:
·
Loss of memory
·
Disturbed vision, blurry or stars
·
Slow reflexes or response
It can be a serious condition. In case of any injury to the
head, apply ice pack and rush the child immediately to a hospital to seek
medical advice.
One cannot avoid sports injury, it’s a part of the package.
But parents can ensure proper preventive measures are
in place.
1. Ensure kids are
wearing safety gear like helmets, knee pads etc. at all times on the field,
while playing.
2. Ensure kids have
done their warm-ups properly before they start their game. If the body is warm
and flexible, chances of injury are reduced.
3. Ensure the child
has access to plenty of fluids so that the body stays hydrated. Fluids would
include water, lemonade and sports drinks. Avoid soda and caffeinated drinks.
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