How can i prevent my child being injured while playing sports?

This question has been posted in these health communities: Sports Injuries and Prevention

Q: How can i prevent my child being injured while playing sports?

My child plays lots of sports, is there something I should be doing as a mum to minimize the chance of a sports injury?

Jason Tomlinson (Personal Trainer)
Health Professional

Hey there! I'm Jason, I'm 20 years old and I have a Diploma of Fitness which gives me the qualification of Fitness Specialist and am ... View profile
Make sure your child does a proper warm up and cool down for each sport, which should include stretching which will help reduce the risk of injury during play. Make sure they wear suitable protective gear for each sport they play, i.e shinpads for soccer and hockey, a mouthguard for rugby and hockey, helments fo bike riding and skating etc.

They should also stay well hydrated throughout an activity, which can either be from water or a sports drink or both.

If your child has a particular medical condition make sure they are cleared to play sport and that the coach and team members know, so if symptoms present then team mates can spot them also. Reply to this post | Report
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Mark Brown (Physiotherapist)
Health Professional

Mark is an APA Sports Physiotherapist with over 25 years experience with a special interest and expertise in performance enhancement and injury prevention. View profile
There is very good evidence that specific lower limb neuromuscular training programs can help to reduce the likelihood of sports injuries in children, adolescents and adults. Neuromuscular training refers to exercises that improve strength, balance and coordination and should be as specific as possible to the demands of the sport and should be used for general training and as part of the warm up program.

Overtraining and fatigue are known risk factors for sports injuries though, so adequate rest and recovery is also particularly important in growing children and adolescents. Proper nutrition and hydration is also important for injury prevention as well as improving performance.

Appropriate protective equipment, well maintained sports fields and facilities, and adherence to the rules are all also factors in reducing the likelihood of injuries in children as well as adults in sport.
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