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Children ’ s Athletics
Children ’ s Athletics
Written Written by Emily by King Emily King
For For many area many kids area , fall kids sports , fall sports are beginning are or or already underway underway . While . While you are you rooting are rooting on your on your favorite favorite athlete , , it it ’ s ’ also a great time to talk to your family doctor about keeping also a great time to talk to your family doctor about keeping your child healthy on and off the field . your child healthy on and off the field .
Dr . Donald Ours is a family medicine physician who specializes in Dr . Donald sports Ours medicine is a family . He emphasizes medicine physician the importance who of specializes scheduling in a sports medicine sports physical . He emphasizes for your young the athlete importance with your of family scheduling doctor . Though a sports physical some schools for your offer young sports athlete physicals with , there your are family many doctor benefits . Though to having some schools your child offer seen sports by a physician physicals who , there knows are their many personal benefits and to family having your child health seen history by a . physician who knows their personal and family health history .
“ The goal of the exam is to search for potentially life-threatening conditions , evaluate for conditions that may predispose athletes to
“ The goal injury of the or illness exam , provide is to search an opportunity for potentially to discuss life-threatening health and lifestyle conditions issues , evaluate ,” says Dr for . Ours conditions . that may predispose athletes to injury or illness , provide an opportunity to discuss health and lifestyle
issues ,” “ says An important Dr . Ours goal . of the evaluation is to identify conditions that can predispose athletes to sudden cardiac death .” We ’ ve all seen tragic
“ An important news stories goal of of the a child evaluation athlete going is to into identify cardiac conditions arrest . It ’ s that rare can but happens to one 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 80,000 athletes per year and many predispose athletes to sudden cardiac death .” We ’ ve all seen tragic times the child is asymptomatic prior to the event . A thorough checkup news stories can help
of a identify
child athlete any risk going factors into that cardiac could lead
arrest to such
. It ’ s a
rare devastating
but happens loss to . one 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 80,000 athletes per year and many times the child is asymptomatic prior to the event . A thorough checkup can help Another identify goal any of risk a sports factors physical that could is to check lead to on such previous a devastating injuries and loss . proactively prevent re-injury . The physician will test for strength and flexibility and may recommend physical therapy or modifications that
Another will goal help of your a sports athlete physical ’ s performance is to check and safety on previous . injuries and proactively prevent re-injury . The physician will test for strength and
“ An in-clinic visit also provides an opportunity to discuss and counsel flexibility athletes
and may on recommend private issues physical such as alcohol
therapy , tobacco
or modifications and drug use
that ,” will help says your Dr athlete . Ours .’ s “ Most performance physical exam and safety forms now . include screening questions about mental health . In-office visits allow a more private “ An in-clinic setting visit to also further provides discuss positives an opportunity found on to screenings discuss and about counsel athletes depression private , issues anxiety , such and other as alcohol mental , health tobacco issues and .” drug use ,” says Dr . Ours . “ Most physical exam forms now include screening questions In a about typical mental exam , the health doctor . In-office will check visits vital allow signs a , such more as private blood setting to pressure further , heart discuss rate , positives weight , and found height on . A screenings good portion about
of the exam involves checking heart health by listening to the heart and lungs to depression check
, anxiety for abnormalities
, and other . Any
mental abnormalities
health issues are followed
.” up with further
In a typical exam , the doctor will check vital signs , such as blood pressure , heart rate , weight , and height . A good portion of the exam involves checking heart health by listening to the heart and lungs to
12 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE ❘ icmags . com check for abnormalities . Any abnormalities are followed up with further
testing or or referral to to a a cardiologist . . It is just as important to have your child seen following any sports It is just as important to have your child seen following any sports
injuries . Dr . Ours personally sees a lot of joint injuries , such as knee , ankle injuries , and . Dr shoulder . Ours personally injuries . He sees also sees a lot many of joint head injuries injuries , . such One as of knee , the ankle biggest , and concerns shoulder is injuries concussion . He . also If your sees child many suffers head a head injuries injury .,
One of they biggest should immediately concerns be is concussion seen in-office . . If your child suffers a head injury , they should immediately be seen in-office . “ Follow-up care after an injury like this can help identify symptoms that could “ Follow-up indicate care something after an more injury that like is going this can on ,” help says identify Dr . Ours symptoms . Your that doctor could will indicate outline something a treatment more plan and that a is plan going for safe on ,” and says gradual Dr . Ours . Your return to play . The same is true for any major injury or a minor injury that doctor will outline a treatment plan and a plan for safe and gradual isn ’ t healing well . return to play . The same is true for any major injury or a minor injury that
“ isn My ’ t advice healing to players well . and parents to avoid injuries is to play a variety of sports and not to specialize in one sport ,” says Dr . Ours . “ My advice to players and parents to avoid injuries is to play a variety of Playing sports a and variety not of to sports specialize strengthens in one different sport ,” parts says of Dr the . Ours body . and helps improve the player ’ s overall athleticism . He recommends a break of Playing 2 to 3 a months variety following of sports a season strengthens of an organized different sport parts . Diversifying of the body and sports can also help prevent your young athlete from losing interest helps improve the player ’ s overall athleticism . He recommends a break and burning out . of 2 to 3 months following a season of an organized sport . Diversifying
“ sports A rule of can thumb also is help to limit prevent the number your of young hours athlete in a week from playing losing a interest sport and burning to the player out .’ s numerical age . For example , a 10-year-old should not participate in more than “ A rule 10 of hours thumb of organized is to limit sports the number in a week of ,” hours in a week playing a recommends sport to the Dr player . Ours ’ s . numerical age . For example ,
a 10-year-old should not participate in more than 10 hours of organized sports in a week ,” recommends Dr . Ours . If you would like to make an appointment with Dr . Ours , call the WHS Family Medicine Centers at ( 724 ) 223-3100 .
If you would like to make an appointment with Dr . Ours , call the WHS Family Medicine Centers at ( 724 ) 223-3100 .