Don’t tell child in pain to ‘just play through it’

This story is brought to you by Summit Spine and Sport Chiropractic. Dr. Kimball Arritt and his staff are highly skilled in chiropractic care, sports medicine, pediatric care, pregnancy, surgical rehabilitation and more.

Michael Phelps, Olympian, gold medal athlete, record breaking swimmer — it’s hard to find someone who hasn’t heard his name.


But Whitney Phelps? 


Michael Phelps’ older sister, she too was destined for the Olympics, so why don’t people know her name?


During the 1996 Olympic trials, Whitney was the top pick, but finished 6th and never made it to the Olympics.


She was secretly suffering with bulging spinal disks and stress fractures. This caused her intense pain, which ultimately led to her exit from the sport.


Finally she told her family about the pain, but even after giving up swimming, Whitney says she still deals with the pain of her injuries every day.


Learning from his sister’s mistake, Michael Phelps is quick to let someone know when he is hurting, something all athletes should be wise enough to do, especially children.


More than 3.5 million children under the age of 15 require medical treatment for sports injuries, nearly half of which are the results of simple overuse, according to stats from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.


That means half of these injuries are easily prevented.


By doing things like introducing variety, moderation, and rest into children’s everyday sports routines, a child’s risk of overuse injury can be cut to almost zero.


Although there is always the chance of traumatic injury while playing most sports, Dr. John DiFiori, chief of sports medicine at UCLA, says until parents began interfering in kid’s sports, they just didn’t see overuse injuries – kids just didn’t play until it hurt.


So what can you do to help keep your kids from getting injured in sports, especially from overuse injuries, which can almost always be avoided?



General sports injury prevention includes the obvious things like knowing how to use and wear sport-appropriate equipment and gear, warming up and staying hydrated.


Overuse injuries may not be as obvious to avoid. 


The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has a few tips.


First, take time to get your children conditioned for the sport rather than expecting the sport to get them into shape.


Seeing a chiropractor for preventative care, allowing kids to diversify the sports they play, and even simple weight training can lessen their risk of overuse injuries.


Next, both the AAOS and STOP Sports Injuries suggest limiting the number of teams your child plays on each season, but playing more than just one sport year round.


The last suggestion relies heavily on parents and coaches.


Foster an attitude of teamwork and sportsmanship, rather than a “win at all costs” mentality. As children seek to meet these unrealistic expectations, it can often lead to injuries, which may have long-term harmful effects.

Parents and coaches need to be aware of the signs of overuse and get a child to a health care provider if they notice any of these symptoms:



• Pain that cannot easily be associated with trauma like a rolled ankle or fall, especially if the pain seems to increase with activity.
• 
Swelling
• Changes to form or technique
• Decreased interest in practice or playing 



Never tell a child to play through the pain, and if pain persists it is important to consult with a medical provider.


Keep your kid in the game by remembering – it’s just a game. Recognize the warning signs of injury and take action before a little pain becomes a big problem.