When summer starts winding down, people’s thoughts turn to fall. Cooler weather, fall foliage, warmer clothing, and the beloved pumpkin spice are on the horizon. For athletes and sports fans, it’s a changing of seasons and the beginning of popular fall sports like football, soccer, and field hockey. Whether your children have ever sustained an injury requiring rehabilitative care, chiropractic care with prevention in mind is an excellent adjustment to make.
Sports are a great addition to a childhood education. Sports teach patience, trust, teamwork, and strategy. Whether your child is the starting quarterback willing to take charge in a situation, or a cross country runner who focuses best when competing against themselves, sports build a foundation of skills that can stick with them for life.
While sports are great, they are not without risk.
Injuries are not exclusive to professionals. Amateur, semi-pro, and even recreational players who compete in sporting leagues suffer injuries. For the very young athlete, injuries are less common. However, by the time athletes reach high school, they are big enough and strong enough to inflict harm on themselves and each other on the field.
The most common injuries in high school sports are to parts of the musculoskeletal system, especially the lower body. Calf, ankle, and foot injuries top the list. Ligament sprains are frequently suffered by high schoolers and fortunately, these are often treated with ice, compression, elevation, and rest.
One of the problems more common to young players is fractures. Adolescent bones have not reached full maturity and the growth plates at the ends are vulnerable. Ligament tears and muscle strains are common as well in sports that require quick movements that require direction change, like soccer and football.
One of the greatest benefits of a young athlete seeing a chiropractor is that it can help prevent injuries and help him make plays. Adjustments improve joint mobility and range of motion, both of which make it less likely to suffer a ligament tear or pull. Having full range of motion also increases the chances of the athlete reaching his full potential to make a play. Regular treatments also may help improve coordination as properly aligned spine and joints will have greater flexibility and full range of motion, which promotes quicker responses to the signals it gets from the brain. Many injuries occur because of poor technique; better coordination reduces that risk.
Youth sports are fun activities that compliment the education of young people. As with any physical activity, injuries are always a possibility. Take the steps to prevent injury as well as maximize performance and fun and know that your friends at Momentum Chiropractic are available to be on your team!