April is Youth Sports Safety Month

According to the CDC, nearly 30 million children across the United States participate in organized sports.  Sports are incredibly important to help children remain healthy both physically and socially. In recent years there has been a dramatic increase in sports related injuries among student athletes such as concussions, heat stroke, and even sudden cardiac arrest.  Each year more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 receive medical treatment for sports injuries and 40 percent of all sports related injuries treated in hospitals are children between the ages of 5 and 14. 

Last July the Senate introduced a bill known as the SAFE PLAY Act that would promote the safety of our young athletes.  SAFE PLAY stands for Supporting Athletes, Families and Educators to Protect the Lives of Athletic Youth.  The purpose of this act is to begin a more stringent focus on research, community education, and federal support for school districts to learn and adopt best practices to keep our young athletes safe.  Several areas would receive attention including but not limited to: heat exposure, CPR and AED training, concussion response and energy drink consumption in an effort to protect our children during athletics and on campus. 

What can you do aid in your child’s sports injury prevention and how can physical therapy help?

First and foremost is to help your children train correctly!  Make sure that they stay hydrated, get enough sleep and eat well balanced meals. 

Next, become familiar with your child’s team best practices regarding injury, both preventative and after injury occurs.  If there is no plan get involved with the coach and other team parents to put one in place. 

Finally, make sure that your child has the right equipment and that it fits properly.  A physical therapist can help your child avoid injury in a number of ways.  A baseline concussion screen now can help diagnose and determine severity of a head injury should one occur.  A physical therapist can perform an injury screen on your child to assess movement patterns and gait.  Any discrepancies or weaknesses found during the assessment can be addressed and corrected through a personalized program. 

Give us a call if you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment!

Concussion Screening Program

A concussion is an injury to the brain that can happen after a hit to the head or as a result of any force that causes shaking of the head. Concussions can occur to any athlete, at any skill level, and the symptoms may not appear right away. If you think a concussion may have happened, it is better to be cautious and always be evaluated by a medical professional.

About Our Concussion Program:
 

- FREE Pre-Concussion Baseline testing with a Physical Therapist (individual or teams).

- Physical therapy assessment and treatment as appropriate if concussion occurs; treatment of neck pain, headaches, dizziness, and balance.

- Supervised progressive exercise program to help in concussion recovery and maintain fitness. Includes use of innovative iLs program to help with neurological recovery.

- Addition of return to sport exercises when appropriate.

- Communication with family, other practitioners, and coaches on status and progress.

- Help with coordination of care if needed for other symptoms.

Click to download our Concussion Program flyer (PDF)
 

Need Medical Advice?

WE NOW OFFER FREE SPORTS INJURY SCREENS!

Our professionals would like to help you in determining the severity of an injury and if it would benefit from physical therapy care.

Our FREE sports injury screen includes:

- 15 minute consultation with a licensed physical therapist

- Gross assessment of strength, flexibility and function

- Recommendation of appropriate medical follow-up (if applicable)

Appointment Required - please call to schedule

Terms & Conditions - The goal of the screening is to determine whether an athlete would benefit from a physical therapy  evaluation and treatment or referral to another health care professional. No physical therapy treatment is provided during
the screening. This offer has no cash value and is not for use in conjunction with any insurance program, and is not a substitute for any portion of patient financial responsibility (co-pay, coinsurance or deductible) under any insurance plan of benefits.

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