Children and adolescents are constantly growing and changing, which means common sports injuries can affect their bodies differently than in adults. When you search for a “chiropractor near me” to help support your young athlete, it’s important to find a chiropractor who has knowledge and expertise in how bodies grow and change, as well as in treating common sports injuries. Parents and coaches tend to consider chiropractic care for young athletes for a more non-invasive, drug-free approach to treating a wide variety of sports injuries. Chiropractors can help young athletes with therapeutic adjustments that reduce pain and strain and encourage healthy habits.
Understanding the Growing Bodies of Young Athletes
Athletes of all ages can benefit from chiropractic care, but it can be especially beneficial for the growing bodies of young athletes. Children and adolescents are constantly going through growth spurts where they are getting taller and stronger. Their bones, muscles, and other soft tissues are developing and also adjusting to new heights and weights, which can temporarily lead to a lack of coordination and mobility. Teenagers who used to be quite flexible as children are finding out their bodies now react differently to physical activities they may have performed when they were younger. All this development and change provides great opportunities for developing healthy habits and promoting physical activities, though it also means children and teenagers are more susceptible to injuries, especially when they play sports.
How Sports Injuries Affect Young Athletes
Common types of sports injuries include overuse injuries and acute injuries. Overuse injuries involve repetitive physical activities that may put too much stress or pressure on certain parts of the body. Acute injuries tend to involve a more sudden injury that immediately impacts their mobility, like a twisted ankle or a dislocated shoulder. Both types of injuries can affect a young athlete’s ability to participate in the physical activities they enjoy until they have time to heal and recover.
Overuse Sports Injuries
Children and teenagers are constantly learning how to participate in physical activities they enjoy, which includes everything from developing teamwork strategies to practicing safe and effective techniques. As young athletes develop, they may learn a few bad habits along the way that might contribute to an overuse injury. These bad habits tend to occur when they use improper techniques over and over to where that movement or activity becomes a habit. When they utilize improper techniques too often without intervention, it may lead to swelling, inflammation, and pain. Resting in between activities is one of the best ways your young athlete can help give their bodies time to heal and recover. Learning and practicing proper techniques will also help prevent overuse injuries in the future.
One example of a common overuse sports injury is tendonitis. Tendonitis can occur in people of all ages and happens when the tendons that connect muscle to bone become inflamed. Inflammation typically occurs when the tendon is irritated, and in the case of a sports injury, this is often due to repetitive motions. Young athletes can develop tendonitis from sports and activities that involve running and jumping, which tends to cause knee pain, or in racket sports where tendonitis may affect the arms and wrists. Another example of an overuse injury is shin splints. Common in runners and dancers, young athletes who develop shin splints may experience pain along the front of their lower leg and tender leg muscles on either side of the bone. High-impact sports and activities that occur on hard ground can also put too much stress on the legs and lead to this type of injury.
Acute Sports Injuries
Overuse injuries may be more common in young athletes, but acute injuries tend to be more well-known because they often come with visible signs. For example, a broken bone or dislocated shoulder may require a sling, splint, cast, or even surgery, depending on the severity of the injury. Acute sports injuries can also prevent a young athlete from participating in the sport they love until they are fully recovered. Sprains and strains affect muscles, ligaments, and tendons and common examples of these include a sprained ankle or a pulled muscle. Students to experience an acute injury on the field or during practice should remove themselves immediately from the activity and get checked out.
Visit a chiropractor to learn more about how your young athlete can safely recover and heal from any sports-related injury through chiropractic care. Additionally, your chiropractor can help support healthy habits so your young athlete can prevent injuries in the future. Visit AICA Orthopedics in Tucker to find out more about our individualized approach to patient care and how your young athlete will be well supported for life on and off the field.