Youth sports injuries are almost inevitable. But how long recovery from injury will take depends on proper sports injury management and rehabilitation.
Acute youth sports injuries, such as a sprained ankle [1], or moderate to severe strain [2], should be seen by your child's primary care physician, who can help you decide if a referral to a sports injury specialist, such as an orthopedist, is required.
If the doctor advises your child to stay out of sports for a period of time, here are the six steps that experts say your child should complete in rehabilitation and treatment of the injury before returning to play.
Here's a tip: You don't have to buy special weights. Anything that weighs a couple of pounds (a large can of vegetables, for instance), can serve as the weight. For leg lifts, put the can into one of your old purses, and hang the purse around your child's ankle and have him do reps while sitting in a tall chair or on the kitchen counter.
Because kids are usually eager to return to play and don't have the discipline to take these steps on their own, and because parents don't have the experience to know when it is safe for their child to progress to the next step, consulting with an athletic trainer (AT) and/or physical therapist at each step along the way is advised. All take time, patience and your encouragement. Skip any of these six steps, or do them out of order, and your child will risk re-injury and his road to complete recovery will probably be longer.
1. Ardern CL, Taylor NF, Feller JA, Webster KE. A systematic review of the psychological factors associated with returning to sport following injury. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47:1120-1126.
2. Ardern CL, Taylor NF, Feller JA, Webster KE. A systematic review of the psychological factors associated with returning to sport following injury. Br J Sports Med. 2013;47:1120-1126.
Revised April 12, 2015
Links:
[1] https://www.momsteam.com/node/284
[2] https://www.momsteam.com/node/609
[3] https://www.momsteam.com/node/255
[4] https://www.momsteam.com/node/2581
[5] https://www.momsteam.com/node/2588
[6] https://www.momsteam.com/users/gwenn-okeeffe
[7] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/muscles-joints-bones/ankle-foot/ankle-sprains-recognition-and-treatment
[8] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/ankle-sprains-parents-role-in-treatment-recovery-and-return-to-play
[9] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/physical-therapy-more-than-just-a-game
[10] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/return-to-play/concussion-return-to-play-step-by-step-approach-recommended
[11] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/return-to-sports-psychological-readiness-as-important-as-physical-readiness
[12] https://www.momsteam.com/health-safety/injury-treatment/physical-therapy/psychological-factors-play-important-role-in-success