Most schools in the United States plan to resume in-person learning this fall. With this, we can also assume that school sports will also resume for the first since the outbreak of Coronavirus 2019. 

Student athletes have had a long break from organized athletic programs. Many children, much like their adult counterparts, are not as fit as they were pre-pandemic. This puts our student athletes at an increased risk of sports injuries.

Injuries for Student Athletes

On average, children and teens account for 3.5 million cases of sports-related injuries every year. The most injuries that occur in student athletes are sprains and strains. 62% of these occur during practice.

Some sports put students at a higher risk of injury than others. High-contact sports, like basketball and football, are the most common cause of sport injuries.

Tips to Rehab Sports Injuries

It is not always necessary to seek medical attention if your child is injured with a muscle sprain or strain. There are several methods that you can do at home that can help your student athlete recover quickly. 

• Combat Inflammation- It is important to apply ice and give your child anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen, for new injuries. Sprains and strains both respond well to this treatment. Do not ice for more than twenty minutes at a time and not apply ice directly to the skin.
• Be Proactive- Icing sore muscles after practices and games, even without an injury, will aid in recovery and prevent the occurrence of muscle strains. 
• Elevate- Propped the injured limb up above chest level. This will increase circulation and improve recovery time.

Statistically, more than half of all student athletes admit to playing with an injury. Do not allow your child to play until they have fully recovered. Doing so will only worsen the severity of injury.

If your child is injured with a break, tear, or other injury that calls for a lengthy recovery, rehabilitation exercises will be needed. These exercises can be done at home and involve mobility and restrengthening the injured area. This should be done before resuming sport activities. Failing to do so will only result in reinjury. Reinjuring an area will result in complications, including a longer recovery time. 

For Medical Attention Visit an Urgent Care Center

Every year more than 775,000 children, under the age of 14, are seen in the emergency department for sports injuries. Stopping in at an Urgent Care Center would be more practical financially and for time management for non-emergency situations. Urgent Care Centers are located throughout the United States and walk-ins are welcome. 

Urgent Care also provides a range of services, including sports physicals, labs, and testing for COVID-19. Contact your local Urgent Care Center for more information about available services.