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Here’s a staggering statistic: About half of youth sports injuries are caused by overuse of a specific part of the body. The good news is that by changing mindsets and behaviors, most of these injuries can be prevented. Here are my top three tips.
1. Focus on the fun—especially when they’re young.
Your child isn’t ready to specialize in a sport until they’re 13 or 14 years old. Before then, the role of sports should be fun, fitness and friends. Support your child, let them try new things, and make sure they know that their happiness is more important than points on the scoreboard.
2. Avoid early sports specialization.
Early sports specialization is a main driver behind youth sport injuries. If your athlete is always using the same joints, muscles and ligaments, it can lead to injury. I generally recommend kids play a different sport each season. They’ll be able to stay in the game while lowering the chance of overuse injuries—they may even find a new sport to love.
3. Set aside time for rest.
In order to stay healthy, your athlete’s body and brain need time to rest. A good rule of thumb is that a child shouldn’t play sports more hours per week than they are years old. I know this can be tough to enforce, especially if your child is self-motivated. But it’s important, so do your best.
When to see a sports medicine doctor: Your child should have a sports physical each year with their primary provider. Also, see a doctor if your child has symptoms for more than a week. Persistent pain should never be a part of sports.
Heather Bergeson, M.D., is a pediatric sports medicine physician at TRIA Orthopedic Center in Bloomington.
