ChildSports

Sports are a big part of American culture. In the US, millions of children play organized sports. The best reason for children to play sports is to have fun. However, there are many other benefits for children who play sports.

Twenty percent of children in the US are overweight. Playing sports is a great way to make exercise fun and help children to develop healthy habits. And, sports can help children improve their agility, balance and coordination.

Active kids are healthy kids, but participating in sports can also put additional stress on children’s growing bodies and result in injury. MD Pediatrics’ specialized approach to sports medicine keeps children in the game, while providing evaluation and guidance to prevent injuries from happening in the first place.

Focusing on the unique needs of school-age and adolescent athletes, our practitioners provide sports physicals and comprehensive sports medicine services that emphasize injury prevention, proper nutrition, and diagnosis and treatment of both chronic and acute injuries.

If your child should become injured, we will coordinate care as needed with your child’s extended care team, including orthopedists, radiologists, and rehabilitation specialists. This comprehensive approach to care guides young athletes through recovery, provides support for the families caring for them, and helps the child safely return to the sport he or she loves.

All children should have a physical exam before they begin playing any sport. Tell the coach if your child has any medical problems. Children should not participate in sports when they are sick, in pain, or tired.

• No matter how small the sports injury, your child’s healthcare provider should check the injury to make sure that it is not more serious than it looks.
• Make sure children drink plenty of fluids, especially when it’s hot outside. Kids are at a higher risk for heat illnesses.
• Encourage children to eat a healthy diet and exercise even when they are not playing their sport.
• Make sure your child knows and follows the rules of the sport. This helps prevent injury.
• Be sure they have the proper equipment and that they know how to use it. Buy the right kind of protective gear and make sure the child uses it for practice and not just for competition.
• Encourage the child to warm up before playing sports to reduce their chance of injury. Children need 2 or 3 days of rest or free play each week. It is also better not to do any one sport for the entire year to prevent overuse injuries.