Helping Your Child Deal With Sports Injuries

Has your child sustained a sports-related injury? Find out what you should do about it.

While sports can provide your child with a wide range of benefits, from building confidence to improved health, playing sports also brings with it a potential risk for injury. By understanding the common types of sports injuries and how they occur, you can help prevent injuries and make playing sports a safe and positive experience for your little one. Read on to learn more, and contact Dr. Lynda Bideau, Dr. Luis Pineiro, and Dr. Alexandria Niewiadomski-Ayala of Children's Physicians in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Palm City, FL, if you feel that your child may need treatment.

What are the common types of childhood sports injuries?

Sports injuries can be categorized into two main types: acute and overuse. Acute injuries often occur as a result of trauma or impact. Common acute injuries include,

  • Sprains and strains
  • Broken bones
  • Torn ligaments
  • Fractures
  • Eye injuries
  • Concussions

Overuse injuries usually occur over time rather than suddenly and are often due to repeated stress placed on certain parts of the body. Overuse injuries can also occur if your child isn’t using the proper protective gear. Common overuse injuries include,

  • Shin splints
  • Knee pain
  • Swimmer’s shoulder
  • Spondylolysis (lower back pain caused by overextension)

How can I prevent sports injuries in my child?

There are many things you can do to reduce your child’s risk for sports-related injuries. One way is to ensure that your child is wearing the proper protective gear they need before heading out onto the field. This includes knee/elbow pads, a helmet, and a mouthguard.

Additionally, your child should be warming-up and stretching for about 15 minutes prior to the game to get the blood circulating throughout their body. Muscles that are cold and aren’t properly warmed up are more prone to injury.

Furthermore, make sure that your child has received adequate and proper training prior to their games. If your child has taken time off, they should slowly start practicing and training again to retrain the body and ensure that it is fully prepared to take on the demands of physical activity.

What should I do if my child sustains an injury?

While some parents may turn to the Internet for answers the only person who will be able to tell you what’s going on is a pediatrician. When you come into one of our offices, our pediatricians will ask you questions about your child’s symptoms and injury and then perform a physical examination. In some cases, imaging tests such as an MRI or X-ray will be necessary to detect broken bones, fractures, torn ligaments, and other injuries. The sooner you seek treatment the better.

Need care? Give us a call

Children’s Physicians provides award-winning pediatric care to children living in Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, and Palm City, FL. If your child is dealing with a sports-related injury or if it’s just time to book their next sports physical, call one of our offices today to set up an appointment with your pediatrician:

  • Palm Beach Gardens: 561-626-4000
  • Jupiter: 561-743-9000
  • Palm City: 772-219-4444

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Palm Beach Gardens

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

8:30 am-12:00 pm

Gardens Office Only.

Sunday:

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Jupiter

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Palm City

Monday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Saturday 9:00 AM - 11:30 AM 

Gardens Office Only

Urgent care only. Phones open at 8:30am for scheduling.
Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis.