Talk to Your Young Athlete About These Sports Safety Tips

School might be out for the summer, but summer sports for young athletes offer plenty to keep them busy — and there’s the looming prospect of next year’s team, as well. Your child or teen athlete may be training harder than ever right now.

Training smart is as important as training hard. Growing bodies are vulnerable to sports injuries, as well as lingering impacts from repetitive stress. You don’t want your kid to end up with lasting physiological damage from school sports, or to miss out on a big game because of an injury.

For expert advice, turn to the sports medicine team, led by Dr. Michael L. Blackwell, at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. We work with young athletes in a wide range of sports, from football to tennis and beyond, to stay physically safe and healthy while pushing for top performance.

With locations in Tomball, Kingwood, and Shenandoah, Texas, the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine forms a core part of your child’s care team. 

Involved parents play just as big of a role, however. Talk to your child or teen athlete about the need for safety while training and competing. Here are some points of emphasis for sports safety.

1. Never skip warming up and cooling down

Young bodies feel very resilient, and young athletes may be prone to skipping full warm-ups or cooldowns before and after intense physical activity. It might feel like a waste of time.

Actually, however, while the stress on young bodies might not feel too intense in the moment, it can absolutely affect function and comfort in years to come. What seems like a mild injury that’s easy to shake off at the time may become the root cause of serious musculoskeletal problems later.

The stretches and exercises you use to warm up are important because they relax tendons and ligaments, engage muscles, and get your body ready to endure stress without taking damage.  This reduces your risk of sports injuries now and repetitive stress injuries in the future. 

Cooling down is key to releasing physical tension and preventing post-activity stiffness and inflammation.

Taking time to fully warm up and cool down is one of the best ways a young athlete can protect their long-term health and wellness, no matter their sport. Parents or caregivers can make sure there’s always plenty of time for these activities.

2. Always use the right equipment

Kids may be tempted to use whatever equipment is handy for athletic play, and you might want to avoid spending too much money on specialized sports equipment. However, for serious young athletes, the right gear goes beyond status or fashion.

Proper equipment provides essential support and protection to active bodies. Using lesser products increases the risk of injury, whether from misuse or overuse, now and in the future.

You need the right equipment to maintain good form, keep pressure safely distributed, and cushion intense impacts. Talk to Dr. Blackwell about the equipment you’re using, and he can advise you on any beneficial changes or updates. 

You should also replace equipment like shoes fairly regularly, as they can wear out and become less effective, and even dangerous.

3. Build a strong core, no matter the sport

Some sports put pressure on your arms and shoulder joints, while some stress your knees, ankles, or leg bones. However, no matter the sport, strong core muscles help prevent sports injuries and repetitive stress damage.

Strong core muscles take pressure off of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in your limbs, as well as your joints. So, when young athletes train, it’s essential to stay focused on core strengthening exercises, as well as those specialized for a particular sport.

For personalized guidance on sports safety, including recommended exercises and equipment lists, schedule a sports medicine appointment with Dr. Blackwell at the Center for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine today. Call now to book, or request an appointment online.