Sports are a big part of many kids’ lives. It helps them to socialize and make new friends, learn what it’s like to be part of a team, learn how to compete in a healthy way and, of course, there are the physical benefits in being active. While it’s great to encourage them to give sports a try and find ones they are passionate about, unfortunately, sports can also lead to injuries. Some of the most common sports-related injuries that kids can suffer from are broken bones, sprains, and tendinitis.
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Now, obviously, as a parent, you want to do all you can to ensure they get on the mend as quickly as possible, which is why it’s wise to have a plan in place should injury occur. Here’s a look at some essential tips you can use when dealing with your child’s sports-related injury.
Assess the Situation
When the injury first occurs, you’ll need to do a quick assessment of the situation. This is when you need to make the decision as to whether or not emergency medical attention is required. Of course, as the experts suggest, if you are ever in doubt, it’s best to have your child seen by a doctor right away. Taking care of youth sports injuries is something that emergency and urgency rooms are used to, and they will be aware of all the necessary steps. Often, prompt medical attention will help improve their odds of a quick recovery.
If they do require medical attention, they will most likely be treated for an acute injury. These are things such as sprains, strains, muscle and ligament tears, breaks, and scrapes/cuts. The emergency clinic may also need to use specific Medical Imaging Solutions such as an ultrasound, CT scanner, or X-ray.
No Doctor Needed?
For those injuries that are more minor in nature and don’t require a visit to the emergency clinic, then you are likely fine to treat the injury at home. Ice is often the first thing people grab after an injury, and for good reason. Ice can help to relieve and prevent inflammation, which will also help with pain management.
It’s best to ice the affected area for 15-20 minutes, then take a break for an hour and ice it again. This treatment should be followed for the first 72 hours following the injury, except when sleeping at night.
Elevate to Reduce Swelling
When swelling is an issue and the ice isn’t doing enough, it’s also wise to elevate the affected area if possible. This will help to control the amount of swelling. The affected area needs to be raised higher than the level of your heart.
Get Plenty of Rest
It’s also important to stress to your child just how important rest is. They need to rest the affected area so as not to cause any additional damage, injury, and pain. As long as it is just a minor injury, a few days of rest should be more than enough.
Prompt Treatment Will Speed Up Recovery
By taking these steps and providing prompt treatment, you’ll be able to speed up your child’s recovery period and even help to lessen the pain and discomfort.
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