If your children are athletes, you know how busy and full of activities your life can get! It seems like you are always on the go to get them to games, tournaments or camps.

Do you know how you would react if your child came home from one of these activities complaining of an injury? Our team at AFC Urgent Care Hixson sees sports-related injuries all the time, and we can help you better understand the different types below.

What Sports Produce the Most Injuries?

When you think of sports injuries, the first sports to come to mind are probably the highest contact ones, like football and basketball. While it is true that these sports typically have a higher risk of injury, that doesn’t mean the low contact or no contact sports don’t carry risk.

In fact, around 700 high school students report injuring themselves in their high school bowling leagues each year. Any time your child chooses to participate in an activity, there is risk for injury. We outline some of the more common injuries and some helpful recovery tips below.

Types of Sports Injuries

• Sprains and strains: When you pivot and twist frequently, these types of injuries are common.
• Overuse injuries: Specialized sports that require a repetitive motion like golf or baseball pitchers frequently suffer from overuse injuries.
• Stress fractures: Constant strain on your muscles can cause tiny fractures in your bone. Sprinters and other track athletes commonly see these.
• Head or neck: Whenever the head and/or neck is involved, these types of injuries need to be taken seriously as they can become severe if left untreated.

Can You Prevent Sports Injuries?

While you can’t completely prevent injuries from occurring, you can ensure that your child is healthy enough to participate in his or her favorite sports in the first place. Coming by for a sports physical is the best way to be evaluated before your child begins any activity.

In addition to receiving a physical, drinking plenty of water and maintaining a varied diet helps support proper body function. It’s also essential to wear sport-specific safety equipment, use proper technique, and warm up and cool down efficiently.

How to Promote Healing After An Injury

• Practice the RICE method—Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate!
• Watch for the development of any more severe symptoms, like a bruise that won’t go away.
• See us for an X-ray. We can get a better picture of the extent of injury and can offer a more thorough diagnosis and treatment plan.

Did your child recently suffer a sports-related injury? Visit our AFC team to get an X-ray—no appointment necessary!