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EVERY KID’S A WINNER
when it comes to playing
sports. Game time can boost a youngster’s social skills
and provide plenty of healthful exercise that’s also a lot
of fun.
But every sport poses at least some risks. As a parent,
you can work together with coaches and your young
athlete to help reduce these risks.
WHAT GOES WRONG?
Most often, youth athletes are
sidelined by:
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Sprains and strains. These involve injuries to ligaments
or muscles and tendons.
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Growth-plate injuries. These occur when the develop-
ing tissues at the ends of children’s long bones get hurt.
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Overuse injuries. These are the result of repetitive
motions—pitching in baseball, for instance—that stress
and strain bones and soft tissues. Overuse injuries are
especially common when eager athletes don’t take time
off from a sport.
STAY OFF THE INJURED LIST
Luckily, sports injuries
usually aren’t severe—and they’re often avoidable. To
help your child score in safety, consider the following
advice:
Ask questions.
Learn what your child’s sports program
MOST PARENTS WANT
their kids to be happy and
healthy, do well in school, and have fun.
But sometimes those things are a challenge for chil-
dren who are delayed in their development or have a
neurological disorder, such as cerebral palsy, muscular
dystrophy or autism.
The pediatric rehab program at Golden Valley Memo-
rial Hospital (GVMH) is designed to help kids overcome
Find out how to deal with
minor injuries—and when to get expert
help. Visit
www.gvmh.org/sportsinjuries.YOUNG ATHLETES: CHEER THEM ON TO SAFETY
Fa m i l y H e a l t h
is doing to prevent and respond to injuries, such as en-
suring conditioning for players and safety training for
coaches.
Schedule a physical.
A preseason exam from a doctor
will help confirm that your youngster is healthy enough
to play.
Get equipped.
Depending on the sport, a helmet, body
padding, mouthguards or shinguards, eye protection, and
proper shoes may be needed.
Play by the rules.
From football to soccer, many sports
have rules designed to prevent injuries. Make sure your
child knows—and follows—them.
Beat the heat.
Give your child a water bottle—and
encourage frequent intake.
Warm up.
Encourage warm-up exercises before
and cooldown exercises after both practices and
games.
Don’t downplay concussions.
In general, players with
a concussion shouldn’t get back in the game until medi-
cally evaluated and cleared to play.
Encourage rest.
Athletes need breaks in between sea-
sons and during practices and games.
Speak up.
Teach your child to speak up if he or she is
sick or hurt. And remember to check with your child’s
doctor should you suspect an injury.
Sources: American Academy of Pediatrics; National Institutes of Health; Safe Kids Worldwide
REHAB FOR LITTLE ONES
Therapy services help children overcome challenges
Do you think your child might
benefit from pediatric rehab? Call
660-890-7190 for more information.
struggles with life skills such as talking, walking, dressing,
eating and reading.
“The goal of pediatric rehab is to help these kids become as
independent as possible, as safely as possible,” says Miranda
Curnutte, a physical therapy assistant in pediatric rehab.
MANY SERVICES
Children of all ages—from babies to
teens—can benefit from the rehab services at GVMH.
Those services include:
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Physical therapy, which helps with gait, balance and
strength problems.
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Speech-language therapy, which helps with commu-
nication problems.
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Occupational therapy, which helps with a variety of
skill- and behavior-related problems.
Rehab sessions often involve kid-friendly items like
scooters, bouncy balls, trampolines and games. “You
have to find ways to make therapy fun,” Curnutte says.
While most children in rehab have a developmental
delay or a neurological disorder, any child can receive
therapy with a doctor’s referral.
For instance, “Some kids just need help with an or-
thopedic issue, such as a broken bone, a sprained ankle
or a tight muscle,” Curnutte says.
MANY LOCATIONS
Pediatric rehab services are offered
at outpatient clinics in Windsor, Clinton and Warsaw. The
clinics are open Monday through Friday, and therapists
often have flexible hours to accommodate a busy family’s
schedule.
In addition to the clinics, GVMH provides physical
and occupational therapy in schools. That might mean
helping a student gain enough strength to write legibly,
sit in a chair or raise a hand in class.
MANY REWARDS
Curnutte finds working in the pediatric
rehab program particularly gratifying, especially when
it’s time to celebrate milestones both big and small.
“Most of the time you see tremendous progress with
kids,” she says. “It’s exciting to see the changes.”
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