Wellness Blog

Children are naturally very active. They love to play cricket in the backyard or football on the field or go to gymnastics class on weekends. Sports are really important for their bodies and minds. When they play sports, they can get hurt. When this happens, parents do not know what to do.

It is very important to know how children get sports injuries and what to do when they get hurt. This can make a difference in how fast your child gets better.

Common Sports Injuries in Children

There are some sports injuries that children often get. Children are not like adults; their bodies are still growing. This means they can get hurt in ways that adults do not. Some common injuries are sprains (ligaments get hurt) and strains (when muscles or tendons get hurt). Children can also get fractures (bones break) and growth plate injuries. Overuse injuries are also common, which happen when children play sports a lot.

Growth plate injuries are a very serious condition to check immediately. The growth plates are the areas of cartilage near the ends of bones. These areas are still growing and are weak, so they can get hurt easily. If a child gets hurt, it might be a sprain for an adult, but for a child it can be a growth plate fracture.

If your child gets hurt, you should stop the activity immediately. Do not tell them to keep playing. You should use the R.I.C.E. Method to help your child feel better.

1. Rest: Stop the activity and do not move the hurt area.
2. Ice: Put an ice pack on the hurt area for fifteen to twenty minutes.
3. Compression: Use a bandage to wrap the hurt area gently.
4. Elevation: Keep the hurt area raised above the level of the heart.

You should do this for 24 to 48 hours after your child gets hurt.

Sometimes children need to see a doctor right away. You should take your child to the doctor

1. Swelling gets bigger
2. The hurt area looks strange or dark
3. If your child cannot put weight on the hurt area
4. If the pain is very bad and severe
5. Your child heard a snapping sound when they got hurt
6. The child gets a head injury

The way to treat sports injuries in children depends on what kind of injury it is and how bad it is. If your child has a sprain or strain, they might just need to rest and do some physiotherapy. If your child has a fracture, they might need to wear a cast or have surgery. If your child has an overuse injury, they need to rest. Then start playing sports again slowly.

One big mistake that parents and coaches make is making children play sports again before they are fully recovered. This can make the injury worse and cause long-term problems.

It is also very important to prevent sports injuries in children. You can do this by making sure your child warms up and cools down when they play sports. You should also make sure they wear the shoes and do not play one sport too much. You should tell your child to take breaks and listen to their body.

At GKNM Hospital, the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine team is very good at treating sports injuries in children. They do not just focus on making the injury better but on making sure your child can play sports safely again. Sports injuries in children need to be treated so that they can get better and play sports again.