Chiropractic for Young Athletes
By Amy Silva
Kids aren't immune to sports injuries just because they're young and healthy. Tripping while running or getting hit with a baseball at practice can cause pain or discomfort and keep your child out of practice and games for a while, or the season, depending on how serious the injury is. Chiropractic care should be considered when treating children with injuries related to sports, and it could help them get back to practice quicker than other methods of treatment.
Common Sports Injuries to Kids and Teens
Injuries can happen at any time and may even occur numerous times if they aren't properly healed or are aggravated again. Common injuries to young athletes include:
- Knee pain or shin splints
- Back and neck pain
- Shoulder pain
Seeking Chiropractic Care May Help Injuries
One study, published by BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, shows athletes who received sports chiropractic care as a treatment option were back to playing their sport five times faster than those who didn't use chiropractic as a treatment. Your child's chiropractor can also talk about tips for sports safety and let them know the importance of taking care of their body while being active. Manual manipulation done by a professional chiropractor may help pain or discomfort in the back, neck, shoulders, or other areas of the body due to a sports injury.
Tips for Preventing and Treating Minor Injuries at Home
- Prioritize safety - Always make sure your child has safety gear on for the specific sport or activity they're participating in. This means wearing a helmet, elbow and knee pads, a mouth guard and even cleats when playing field sports to prevent slipping on the turf.
- Warm up and stretch properly - Warming up muscles to prepare them for activity can help prevent injuries, as can stretching afterward.
- Rest when needed - If a child complains of mild discomfort or pain, allow them to rest. Forcing them to participate in an activity or sport when their body is telling them it needs to rest can help prevent minor injuries from turning into serious issues that need medical attention.
No matter how careful your child is, accidents can happen. Consider chiropractic as a treatment option should anything happen to them on the field, or even at the playground. It could help speed up healing time and get them back to practice faster. Visit the chiropractors at The Joint Chiropractic for an assessment. They're open evenings and weekends for your convenience and no appointment is necessary.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Fitchburg, Wis.