sports Archives - 3 Kids and Us

Sports Are Good For Children—But Injuries Can Happen

August 1, 2020 by admin

A Clear Tradeoff

There are many positive benefits for children involved in sporting events. For one thing, they learn to work toward a goal. For another, they learn how it’s necessary to function as a team to achieve that goal. They learn discipline in the form of regular practice so certain aspects of the sports become ingrained at the subconscious level. This also involves exercise.

With sports like ice hockey, a new skill must be learned just to play the sport—you can’t play ice hockey if you can’t skate, and you can’t ice skate well enough to be a valuable team member unless you practice. Getting the balance right involves “growing” new muscles. You’ve got to have stronger ankles and leg muscles, and you get them through skating.

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It may take a whole season for a young child to learn skating well enough they’re able to be a valuable part of the team; that’s one of many reasons it’s good to start children on hockey early if there’s an interest, or you want to see them get good by the time they’re teenagers. But hockey isn’t the only sport which requires those who play it to learn new skills.

Swimming is similar, and many swimming sports exist. Singular sports like biking or hiking, more appropriately athletic activities, also require new skills to be learned. But regardless of the athletic activity your young ones are getting involved with, increased physicality naturally expands the risk of injury. So there’s a clear tradeoff. But as a parent, how do you manage it?

Safeguarding Children And Preserving Positive Sporting Benefits

The benefits of sports events outweigh the potential hazards; but those hazards certainly can’t be ignored. Especially with a sport like ice hockey, between “checking”, the hardness of the ice, general clumsiness, fast-flying pucks, high tempers, and general clumsiness, it’s a greater surprise if young ones sustain no injury whatever, than if they get scuffed up a bit over the regular course of the season.

What makes sense is securing the trustworthy services of a local sports medicine physician. The thing about injuries is, their recovery may require a lot of time or a little; but there are definitely best practices. Sometimes your child will pull a muscle, or dislocate something. While they’re in definite pain, with a slight adjustment they can return to practice.

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Other times, a given injury might be at a level where it’s going to take a few months for the young one to recover, and then there will be physical therapy to consider. For such situations, it makes sense to secure the services of a trusted orthopedic surgeon at Ocean County; or wherever you happen to be.

When you’ve got orthopedic or sports medicine options available prior to the start of the season, recovery happens quicker, you get the right medical attention sooner, and you can probably reduce associated costs in either surgery or therapy right off the bat. You’ll know what the doctors charge, and you’ve got time to shop around—if you prepare beforehand.

Your Child’s Sports Experience Benefits Through Preparation

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So there’s a mild dichotomy to consider here. On the one hand, you want to provide your young ones the best possible opportunities as regards development. Athleticism, new skills, team building, socialization, long-term planning and preparation—sports provide such outcomes in a natural, organic way that’s fun for everyone. But injury potential exists.

You can diminish associated injury impact through acquisition of proper medical professionals from the outset. Doing things this way allows you to shop around for the best medical options, preserving your bank account by helping you avoid the emergency room when possible, while simultaneously setting your children up for success in sports.

How I Was Traveling To My Nephew’s Football Game

August 29, 2017 by admin

Ten years ago, when my nephew only was born, I lived with my parents in a little town in Massachusetts. My sister and her husband bought a house next door, so all our big family used to hang out together, watching tv, babysitting the little one and playing sports on weekends.

Especially we all loved playing football. Therefore, as the second youngest member of our family, I was very close to my nephew, Steve. We both were about crying when I was leaving to New York for my Master’s degree. Vividly, I remember a scene, when my 7-year-old nephew stands with a football in his hands and asks me if I come to his first game. I made my promise and departed.

Three more years have passed, Steve joined the boy scouts, so I forgot my promise, as one day my sister called me.

‘Stevie has his first football game in a week’, she said. ‘Come Friday night’.
‘In a week?’, I felt really irritated. ‘And you’re telling me now?! I have other plans, I have a girlfriend, I have a job!’

‘Honey, calm down. If you don’t want to come, do not come then’.

And she hung up.

What did I have to do besides packing for my trip? I called my employer and arranged stuff with my girlfriend, apologizing so many times, and in a week, on Friday morning, I drew out of New York, heading North.

The music was playing loud, I was in a cheerful mood, imagining how happy Stevie would be when he sees me at the game. But suddenly my car stopped for no reason. I tried to turn on the engine, however, there was no luck. I stuck in the middle of the highway!

The road was quite empty, so somehow I pushed my car aside. Actually, all I was thinking at that moment was how would I get to the game on time. So, I couldn’t think of a better idea than to hitch-hike. I stopped by a local store to buy some helmet accessories for my nephew.

It is hard to say how long I was standing there with my finger up. For me, it seemed like an eternity. All those cars passing by with drivers, who do not give a damn about you and your trouble.
Suddenly an old green truck stopped. A small lady in her sixties waved to me in a friendly way.
‘Any problem, hun?’

‘I need to get to Boston as soon as possible’, said I. ‘Could you give me a ride?’

‘Sure. Get it. I am going to a football game of my grandson. The first one! And you?’

I have never believed in miracles until that day. Now I know that the most beautiful things happen to us in an unexpected way. The lady was going to another town in Connecticut, but she gave me a ride home and dropped me off by the front door of my parents’ house. She disappeared as fast as she appeared before, and I still don’t know her name. Maybe, she was just an angel? Who knows. But my nephew’s team won the game and it was one of the happiest moments of my life.

Why You Should Encourage Your Kids to Play Sports

March 24, 2017 by admin

With kids today spending so much time hunched over tablets, Gameboys and computers, it can be a constant battle to ensure that they are getting enough physical activity. One thing that many parents do is to enroll their children in organized sports. Whether your child ends up playing varsity football like Mack Prioleau or simply develops a lifelong appreciation for an active lifestyle, there are many benefits that come from encouraging your kids to participate in sports. Here are just a few.

Cardiovascular and Muscle Strength

An obvious benefit that comes with being involved in sports is the impact on the overall health of your kids. A generation ago, kids would have been outside running around for hours every day. Now, they spend very little time engaged in active play, which makes the time spent play sports even more important. No matter what sport they enjoy, they will spend time developing their cardiovascular health and muscle strength as a result of running, jumping, hitting or swimming.

Coordination and Flexibility

While studies have shown that computer games can contribute to the development of fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination, there is no substitute for sports as a way to bring these skills into the real world. In addition to developing fine motor skills, sports also encourage the development of gross motor skills that can only come from moving your body through space. And no matter what sport your child enjoys, flexibility and mobility will benefit as well.

Discipline and perseverance

As children gain skills in their chosen sport, there will come a time when they want to continue to improve their abilities but they find that it no longer comes as easily or naturally as the basic skills did. This means that children learn that in order to improve, they must be prepared to put in the effort to practice. They will also learn that this comes with sacrifice – in order to practice, there will be times when the child will have to make a choice between practicing and another activity. They also learn that even though not everything may come easily, there are small improvements that they can observe and build on every day, thus teaching the value of perseverance and patience. The sense of accomplishment that they can enjoy as they achieve their goals will reinforce the value of hard work.

Sportsmanship

Whether your child plays a team sport or an individual sport, they will need to internalize the norms of good sportsmanship, which include values of fair play, the importance of following rules, of working with others, and of being both gracious winners and losers. The ritual of players shaking hands and saying “good game” after a competitive match underscores everything that is good about sportsmanship and models positive values that your child can take into adulthood.

These are just some of the many ways that your child can benefit from involvement in sports!

How to Help Your Child with Sports Injuries this Season

January 24, 2017 by admin

If your kids love to take an active part in sports, that’s awesome! Playing games encourages the development of discipline, team spirit, and sportsmanship. Above all and most important, it cuts back on the time kids spend with devices. However, playing sports carries the very real possibility of injuries. While acute sports injuries are commonplace, chronic injuries can affect the growing musculoskeletal structure of a child’s body.

In the year 2012 alone, more than 1.3 million kids reported to the emergency room with sports injuries ranging from ankle sprains, ligament tears, and head trauma, among others. As a parent, you must do the best you can to protect your kids from such injuries. And, since they are unavoidable, use the best treatments possible to help them recover quickly and get back in the game, one of them being PRP treatment for sports injuries.

Prevention is Better than Cure

Avoiding getting sports injuries is always preferable than treating them and going through the long and sometimes, difficult rehabilitation process. So, what you can do to help prepare your kids for playing sports?

Make sure your children have all the protective gear they needincluding knee guards, elbow pads, helmets, and shoes with proper grips, to name a few. Talk to the coach for information on the right kind of gear that can help prevent sports injuries.
While your kids might have a particular interest in a specific sport, having them play different games can help lower the risk of chronic injuries. Think baseball, soccer, lacrosse, football, and basketball.
Talk to the coach about having your kids practice a range of different movementsso that repetitive motions don’t stress a particular joint.
If your children are playing a single sport all through the season, make sure you get them physical therapy to prepare their bodies before the start of the season.
Before the academic year begins, kids go through the preseason physicals to assess their fitness levels. Depending on the sport they’ll play, request your pediatrician to take a close look at their muscles and joints. For instance, if your child has been preparing to pitch in a baseball game, have her shoulder muscles examined thoroughly. But, if she’s on the cheerleading squad, you’ll need to pay particular attention to her lower back and core muscles.
Talk to your kids about the importance of warming up their muscles before playing a game to prevent sports injuries. Warming up can include dynamic and static exercises such as touching the toes, jumping, stretching, and other moves that help loosen the muscles.
Insist that your kids get complete rest and adequate sleep so they can recover from the stress of the sport.
Consult with the pediatrician and coach andwork out a healthy, balanced diet plan that includes lots of nutritious foods including lean protein, fruits, and vegetables. Make sure your child eats regular meals and takes adequate fluids to remain hydrated.
Explain to your kids that they must carefully follow the instructions and guidelines that their coach outlines. Ensure that they understand the importance of safety when playing.

Watch Your Child Carefully

An important factor to keep in mind is that kids become so engrossed and focused on playing that they may overlook any sports injuries they get on the field. As a parent, you must keep a sharp lookout for any signs that indicate your child is hurt. These symptoms can include swelling of the joints, pain, and soreness even after resting well and consistent pain while playing or when at home. If you notice your child limping or indicating that the joints are “giving way,” get medical attention immediately.

Caring for Your Child

If you think your child is hurt, consult the primary care physician right away. In case your child needs specialized treatment, she will refer you to the best sports injuries doctor or orthopedist that can help you. Here are the typical treatment steps you might have to follow;

Avoid letting your children play until the injury has healed completely. This factor is especially important if they have limited movement in any joint. When you see them walking or using a shoulder normally, you’ll know that they are ready to go back to playing.
If they insist on continuing to exercise, check with the doctor for movements that will not stress the injury further. Get a trainer to supervise the workouts.
Make sure your kids gets the right nutrition that will help them heal faster.
Help your child do all the exercises that the therapist recommends. These movements will help restore the complete range of motion and functioning of the injured joint or ligament.
Your orthopedist might give your kids weight training exercises to do or any other workouts that can help build endurance but don’t aggravate the injured joint. Assist them in every way you can.
With your doctor’s recommendations, you can do your bit at home by applying hot and cold packs, compression wrapping, and keeping the injured joint immobile and elevated.

Dealing with Major Injuries

Given the young age of your kids and the fact that they’re still growing, most doctors will not recommend invasive measures to treat sports injuries that can alter their tissues and anatomy. Unless the damage is very severe, doctors prefer to avoid surgery that often involves long rehabilitation and the need to stay away from sports. Add to that is the possibility that the surgery could go wrong and cause permanent disability. As a last resort before surgery, your orthopedist might ask you to consider getting PRP treatment for sports injuries.

What is PRP Therapy?

PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma) therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that can help your kids recover from their injuries without the use of foreign implants and chemical injections like cortisone. The PRP serum is created from a small sample of the patient’s blood and has no additives save for epinephrine that is an anti-allergic medication. After creating the serum, doctors insert it into the affected area where it sets off a healing cascade. PRP contains a concentration of mesenchymal stem cells, growth factors, cytokines, and other healing agents that are a natural part of the body’s regenerative systems.

Patients typically report seeing a marked improvement in the pain and ease of movement within a few weeks of getting the treatment. Considering that many top athletes of the world like Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, Hines Ward, and others have used the therapy with amazing results, you can rest assured that it is safe for your kids also.

To help your kids with sports injuries, you might want to opt for natural treatments that are not only highly effective but also unlikely to cause any permanent changes that may affect their future growth and normal living. PRP therapy can shorten the recovery period significantly and have your kids back in the game in no time.