Active children are healthy children, but playing sports can ultimately bring about injuries. Prior to puberty, the most common sports-related injury in children is broken bones, known as fractures. Before your child reaches puberty, children’s bones are at their most flexible point as their cartilage begins to fill in and the bones continue to grow. Encouraging exercise is always recommended for preventing the onset of obesity, but when an injury arises, our team at Rose Creek Pediatrics can help your child recover quickly.
Signs of a Sports Injury and Avoiding Re-Injury
Most sports injuries during childhood are minor and can include bruises, abrasions, strains, and sprains. Children are typically at low risk for major injuries due to this flexibility they have during their development, but sometimes, depending on the sport, some injuries can become overused or present symptoms that require medical attention.
The most reliable method for sports injuries is the RICE method. The RICE method is an acronym for treating soft tissue injuries: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. This regimen helps decrease signs of swelling and pain throughout the injury, allowing children to heal from their injuries within a matter of a few weeks. While children may still be able to move the affected area, there are other reliable indicators that show that their injury needs attention, including:
- Pain Several Hours After Injury: Even after using the RICE method, any signs of severe pain that aren’t reduced or resolved within the next few hours should be seen by a pediatrician. Any symptoms of pain that do not go away within days need urgent care.
- Deformity and Swelling: Signs of severe deformity and heavy swelling around or near the affected area should be quickly evaluated by a doctor.
- Heavy Limitation of Movement: Pain that lasts longer than a day and restricts everyday movement and activity will also need medical attention.
Through appropriate supervision, proper equipment, and correct training, preventing these injuries are possible. Stretching and warming up should always be included for children and teenagers, and making sure they are fully rehabilitated prior to rejoining activities is the best way to avoid the risk of re-injury. However, in the cases of fractures that require long-term care, seeing your pediatrician can help.
Severe Sports Injury Treatment at Rose Creek Pediatrics
Any signs of a broken bone or musculoskeletal injury can be confirmed through the use of x-rays and close monitoring. Our medical team will work to provide you with resources about caring for your child while they’re in rehabilitation, including caring for casts, physical therapy resources, and further evaluation. As your child grows rapidly into their teenage years, our team can provide you with long-term care that helps your child grow healthy, preventing the risk of overusing injuries and other vulnerabilities.
At Rose Creek Pediatrics, we work with children of all ages to provide them and their parents with compassionate, specialist care from our team of pediatricians. For more information about our services, treatments, and other methods we use, contact our clinic by calling 801-446-0102 or by visiting us in Riverton, UT.
