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1. Schedule a Pre-Season Physical
A pre-season physical is vital in determining if a young athlete is fit and ready to return to sports. In addition, a physical will help identify if there are any areas of concern before starting the season. Physicals are usually required before a child begins any sport, so it’s best to plan ahead and schedule your child’s physical in advance.
2. Keep Hydrated
Avoid heat-related injuries by staying hydrated before, during, and after physical activity. Many injuries occur when fatigue sets in due to dehydration, so drink plenty of water throughout the day.
3. Watch for overuse injuries
Overuse injuries can occur when repetitive actions put too much stress on bones and muscles and start to cause pain. Be on the watch for symptoms of overuse injuries such as sore or swollen joints, shoulder pain, tight lower back, or pain when throwing a ball. These symptoms can worsen over time if not taken care of. Make sure to give your joints time to heal before continuing physical activity.
4. Wear Proper Footwear
Volleyball shoes, football cleats, running shoes, there’s a proper shoe for every sport! Making sure your child’s shoe fits correctly, is comfortable, and has enough support can aid in avoiding injury. Fleet Feet in Des Moines can help you find the perfect shoe for any sport.
5. Rest and Recover
Rest is essential in any sport. Every athlete needs to take time to recover and not overwork themselves. If an injury occurs, practice the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation). Don’t hesitate to contact a specialist. Our Urgent Injury Clinics are open six days a week; no appointment necessary.
If you or your child experience a sport related injury, consider making an appointment with one of our Sports Medicine providers, or visiting one of our walk-in Urgent Injury Clinics. We are here to help you get back to playing your favorite sport.
*Disclaimer: The content of this blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare professional for any medical questions. While we make every effort to ensure the information we share is accurate, we welcome comments, suggestions, or corrections of errors. This blog should not be used in any legal capacity whatsoever, including but not limited to establishing a “standard of care” in legal sense or basis for expert witness testimony. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of any statements or opinions made on this blog or website. In no way does listening, reading, emailing, or interacting on social media with our content establish a doctor-patient relationship. This blog is not medical advice. If necessary, please seek treatment immediately*
