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maskmatters.org
FALL 2017
A
ll of us have experienced pain, but did you
know that pain is actually a protection
mechanism? Our bodies sense tissue injury
and the brain interprets this and tells
us to stop. But do we? Do we
encourage our kids to stop?
Overuse injuries are more
prevalent than ever in youth
sports. According to the Centers
for Disease Control & Prevention,
more than half of sports injuries
in children are preventable.
Sports are an important
aspect of children’s physical and social development
and can be a very positive experience for them.
Regular, healthy stress to a growing body will aid
in bone growth and improve muscle strength, and
children will learn new skills and improve self-esteem.
But too much of anything is never a good thing.
Research published in the
Journal of Athletic
Training
reported high school athletes account for an
estimated 2 million injuries, 500,000 doctor visits and
30,000 hospitalizations.
What is your role as a sports-enthused parent?
Allow your child to explore and encourage them
to play different sports. Also, allow them to make
mistakes. Give them a chance to learn from situations,
PARENTING
PUSH
By // Tim Spooner, PT, FAFS & Rachel Keith, PT, DPT, ATC
educate
+
sportsmanship
More than half
of sports injuries
in children are
preventable.
