On the Coast – Families Issue 101 I August/September 2019 | Page 16
Focus on kid’s
With winter sports well and truly
underway, it is important to understand
the different types of injuries that your
little athletes may incur.
Injuries related to sports participation
fall into three categories:
Acute injuries happen suddenly and
are usually associated with some form
of trauma. In younger children, acute
injuries often include minor bruises,
sprains, and strains. Teen athletes are
more likely to sustain more severe
injuries, including broken bones and torn
ligaments.
1
2
Overuse injuries are caused by
repetitive actions that put too much
stress on the bones and muscles.
Although they can happen in adults too,
they’re more problematic in young
athletes because they can affect bone
growth.
Anterior Knee Pain (pain in the front
of the knee under the kneecap)
Little League Elbow (pain and
tenderness in the elbow)
Swimmer’s Shoulder (inflammation of
the shoulder causing pain in the back
of the shoulder)
Shin Splints (pain and discomfort on
the front of the lower parts of the legs)
Spondylolysis (persistent lower
back pain)
3
Re-injury occurs when an athlete
returns to the sport before a previous
injury has sufficiently healed. Athletes
are at a much greater risk for re-injury
when they return to the game before
sports injuries
recovering fully. Doing so
places stress upon the
injury and forces the
body to compensate for
the weakness, which
can put the athlete at
greater risk for
injuring another
body part.
Injuries sustained by young athletes
are often trivialised. They are usually
encouraged to “toughen up and play
through the pain.” However, this
approach is not always in the best
interest of the young athlete. If not
treated appropriately these injuries can
lead to both a delay in the injury healing
and a delay in returning to their much-
loved sport. In some instances, delaying
treatment can turn an easily treatable
injury into one that becomes difficult
to treat, and in some cases, result in a
serious permanent injury that precludes
future sports participation.
What to do in the event of an injury?
For acute injuries, many paediatric sports
medicine specialists usually take a “better
safe than sorry” approach. If an injury
appears to affect basic functioning in
any way — for example, if your child
can’t bend a finger, is limping, or has had
a change in consciousness — first aid
should be given immediately. A doctor
should then see your child. If the injury
seems to be more serious, it’s important
to take your child to the nearest hospital
emergency department.
For overuse injuries, if your child is
complaining of pain, it’s the body’s way
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of saying there’s a problem. It
is best to limit activity until your
child sees a doctor. Doctors usually
can diagnose overuse injuries by taking
a medical history, examining the child,
and ordering X-rays, if needed. Often
overuse injuries are characterized by
swelling, and a doctor may prescribe rest,
medicines to ease inflammation, and
physical therapy.
In the event of any injury, it is
imperative that the parent and child
remain calm and seek medical attention
as soon as possible. It is important to
keep the injured limb stationary, as
moving it can cause greater damage. It
is also worth noting that the use of any
medicine without medical advice should
be avoided. It is only advisable to apply
a cold compress in the affected area or
to use ice pack on the injury. In the case
of exposed fractures, it is recommended
that the break be covered with a
clean cloth or gauze and that medical
assistance be sought immediately.
Toukley Family Practice
www.toukleydoctors.com.au
Mariners Medical
www.marinersdoctors.com.au
Warnervale GP Super clinic
www.warnervaledoctors.com.au
Tuggerah Medical Centre
www.tuggerahdoctors.com.au
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