High school fall sports provide valuable physical activity and team engagement, but they also bring the possibility of injuries that can impact young athletes. Understanding these risks and taking preventive measures is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable sports experience.  1. Sprains and Strains In sports like soccer, football, and cross-country, sprains (ligament injuries) and strains (muscle/tendon injuries) are common. These can lead to pain, swelling, and limited movement, potentially causing lasting joint ...

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Sports physicals are vital to ensure the health and well being of those keen on participating in athletic activities. They are thorough medical exams that are necessary to gauge the physical fitness levels of athletes. In Oregon, the Oregon Schools Activities Association (OSAA) oversees sports physicals. The OSAA also recommends a specific form be used by medical professionals when performing this exam. The form can be found online at https://www.osaa.org/docs/forms ...

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The time has finally come where we start to say goodbye to the summer season and gearing up for fall! And what is one of the most favorite pastimes of the fall season among Americans? Sports! Our team at AFC Urgent Care Portland wants to help you step forward into the fall sports season with some insight about how to keep your young athlete safe on the field or court. Read on as we take ...

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If your child plays team sports through their school, you are probably looking forward to cheering them on during their season, and planning out your schedule around their practices. But have you planned for their sports physical yet? The pre-participation sports physical is required almost universally in the United States. Sports physicals help prevent risk and assess the health and fitness of children to ensure the activity will be healthy for them. Here’s why ...

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In a specialized area of medicine that requires a significant amount of advanced training in both the treatment and prevention of injury, a Sports Medicine Specialist can often help patients minimize the effects of a debilitating injury. With a goal of reducing an individual’s time away from work, sports or other physical activities, the services that a Sports Medicine Specialist performs ultimately helps keep people healthy, happy and doing the things in life they ...

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February is American Heart Month, which strives to educate Americans about the dangers of heart disease and the steps that you can take to minimize its risk. Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States, as about one-out-of-four deaths can be attributed to heart disease each year.  While the heart naturally ages and weakens, you can significantly slow down this process and improve the wellness of your heart by following ...

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Even though many people, especially athletes, believe their bodies are invincible, the truth is no one is immune to injuries. One of the most common sports related injuries, ankle sprains, can happen not only on the athletic field or court, but simply by stepping off a curb and landing incorrectly as well. At AFC Urgent Care, we understand that accidents can happen both on and off the playing field, which is why our staff is ...

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It’s early spring, which means it’s time for all young athletes to get ready to join their teams to compete in the spring, summer or fall. According to a report Sports and Fitness Industry  Association, about 21.47 million children in the United States participate in organized sports, which comes to about 75 percent of boys and 69 percent of girls. One essential step in your preparation for your sport of choice should ...

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Signs & Symptoms To Help Determine Severity Of Injury With an increase in media coverage surrounding concussions and traumatic brain injuries, safety guidelines are often getting updated to help protect child athletes. But even with new athletic rules, safety equipment and training for coaches and teachers, there are many sports that are still considered to be high-risk for concussions. Since school sports are starting back up, it’s important to be aware of the dangers of ...

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The reasons why physicals are required for young athletes If your child plays or competes in school or club sports, you’re probably familiar with sports physicals, also known as a Preparticipation Physical Exam (PPE). Before a player can compete, most schools and sports leagues will require a physical. Typically, there are two parts of a sports physical – a medical history review and a physical exam. Both parts are important and can help keep your ...

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