The transition from winter to spring sports can be tricky for many student athletes. Whether your child is going from the ice to the field or coming back from a season on the couch, there are things you as a parent can look out for to ensure a smooth, injury-free season.
A small, but often overlooked one is to check their equipment. One of the biggest issues kids have at the start of any season is blisters, heel pain or other issues associated with a change in footwear. The culprit is often simply wearing the wrong size shoe. If your child is returning to spring soccer and wearing the same cleats from last year, there is a very good chance they are too small. In addition, if their winter sport was played in a hockey skate or ski boot transitioning into a cleat or court sneaker taxes the Achilles tendon to a significantly greater degree. Parents and players should keep an eye out for pain, swelling or stress along the back of the heel.
Parents and coaches need to keep an eye out for signs of cardio-vascular overload associated with general deconditioning. Running up and down the lacrosse field taxes the body in a different way than competing on the beam at gymnastics. Your child may be an amazing all-around athlete, however, they are still human. Making the switch between sports that vary in the physical demands such as running, cutting, and pivoting challenges their heart differently. Extreme fatigue, headache, shortness of breath, cramps, and chest pain are all signs that the athlete needs more recovery.
Also, pay attention to changes in your child’s general movement patterns and performance at their sport. If your athlete appears to be limping, avoiding putting weight on one limb, rubbing their knee or shoulder – ask questions as to “where” and “why.” Kids tend to be resilient and will often ignore the issue until it stops them in their tracks. The best way to avoid being sidelined is to address issues early and often. Invest in an extra day of rest, ice, stretching and other preventative measures to stay in it for the long-term.
You may have heard us talk about our Fitzgerald PT “Athletes for Life” program. This was created in order to help set athletes up to be mobile and active throughout their lives -with minimal injury. This program is important to help student athletes achieve the best success of being a healthy and injury-free adult and build habits now can help them be able to be active in the future.
When in doubt, seek consultation from your health care team here at Fitzgerald Physical Therapy. We are proud to be an affiliate of Boston’s Children’s Hospital Sports Medicine.
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