Playing sports can build character, “muscle” and self-esteem when it comes to your kids, but it can also set them up for future injuries that will follow them into adulthood, if you’re not careful. While nothing rivals parental pride over a “winning goal” or home run, there is always an equal amount of anxiety that occurs when they watch their child slam into another player, slide into home base or remain lying on the field for a few moments after a tough tackle.

It’s no wonder then that each year, 12-million children sustain sports injuries in America from falls, collisions or contact with flying objects (over 60,000 of these resulting in head and brain injuries). Brain injuries, in particular, have the potential to affect your child’s or teen’s performance long after they have left the playing field because of damage to the learning, memory and concentration centers of the brain that can impact their future academic and athletic performance.   

However, with the proper kind of training and health maintenance programs, the minor injuries that young athletes sustain over time should stay just that way - minor.  In fact, the only time that a sports injury is likely to move into the major leagues is when misdiagnosis or a premature return to the playing field occurs. While trainers are excellent for practice and game preparation, they truly are not prepared to diagnose the long-term physical effects of injuries and will refer an injured player to an appropriate chiropractic, medical or rehab practitioner. 

Following an injury, athletes are likely to overcompensate and/or shift their weight distribution to try to sustain their performance level, a tactic which often results in re-injury. With regular chiropractic care, athletes will have their greatest opportunity not only to avoid injury, but to recover from it with flying colors. “Chiropractic helps our athletes return to competition faster if they have sustained injuries, and secondly, it seems to be preventive in the sense that it keeps our athletes more mobile, flexible and feeling better,” says Mike Gentry, Assistant Athletic Director for Virginia Tech’s football team.

Chiropractic care for sports injuries can vary from 3 to 12 months (and may need to be combined with rehabilitative exercise, physical therapy and nutritional changes to reduce inflammation), while extremity injuries will typically resolve in 2 to 12 weeks. “I’ve used a lot of other treatments for injuries and pain, but the problem doesn’t get fixed until I go to a doctor of chiropractic,” says U.S. Olympic Speed Skater, Derek Parra. In fact, Dallas Cowboys running back, Emmitt Smith, credits “chiropractic, God and his teammates for his longevity and success.” Isn’t it time you find out how a regular chiropractic regimen can add to your lists of credits including enhanced performance and healing time?

Each Season: 20 out of every 100 girls will sustain sports injuries along with 39 of every 100 boys

Common Acute Sports Injuries Include: detached retina, scratched cornea, broken bones, and brain injuries.

Common Overuse Injuries Include: Knee pain, “tennis elbow,” shin splints, and “swimmer’s shoulder.” Inadequate stretching and warm up, improper technique and unsuitable equipment are also common causes of injury!