Keeping Student-Athletes Healthy and in the Game

By: Gary Katz, PT, ATC, CSCS Maryland SportsCare & Rehab

Another school year is upon us and campuses are buzzing with activity including practices and games for fall sports. It's important that coaches, parents and athletes put health first. Middle and high school athletes are in the prime stages of their physical development and research has shown that 1/3 of childhood injuries are sports related. Prevention and treatment are key and there are several things that parents, coaches and athletes can do to ensure a great sports season and a healthy experience.

Keeping an athlete healthy starts with communication. Having a sports medicine team on your side helps to prevent injury and determine the quickest and safest return-to-play possible. That team involves the parent, coach, physician, physical therapist and a certified athletic trainer (ATC). The lines of communication to all parties should be open and positive. All play a role in keeping the athlete safe and sound.

Any aches and pains that are voiced by the athlete should be taken care of right away. Anything that might seem minor, if treated early, is an injury that can be prevented from becoming chronic or severe. Tactics such as putting ice on a sore elbow or taking a day off to rest a sprained ankle are all preventative measures that can protect an athlete from losing more playing time later in the season.

Stretching is an important factor in ensuring a healthy sports season. Coaches should institute a proper flexibility training program. Athletes should participate in a ten to fifteen minute warm up to get their blood flowing followed by dynamic agility drills.

In addition to a proper stretching regimen athletes must develop an age-appropriate strength training schedule. The main time for strength training is in the off-season. Once athletes enter the sport season strength training should be reduced to two days a week and focus on general conditioning. All strength training programs should be approved and supervised by the sports medicine team.

Exhaustion is a serious problem for many young athletes. In this day and age, we praise our youth for being able to juggle many activities. We have to make sure that we don't overwork our youth because too many activities may lead to physical and mental exhaustion. Sleep is important, but giving kids a break is also essential for them to stay balanced. Keep an eye out for signs of exhaustion which include unusual crankiness, erratic behavior, consistent yawning and excessive sleeping.

One of the most dangerous and frequently discussed sports injuries is the concussion. A concussion "which occurs in both contact and non-contact sports" is a very serious condition that may cause memory loss, concentration problems, sleep disturbances, mood changes and more. If a concussion is suspected, having your sports medicine team evaluate and monitor the athlete is crucial. Symptoms should be observed daily and a gradual return-to-play plan implemented once the athlete is symptom free.

Injuries during any sports season are not completely unavoidable but with a certified athletic trainer (ATC) as part of the sports medicine team, injuries do not have to become chronic problems. It is the ATC's role to care for and prevent injuries. ATCs serve as the liaison between the athletes, coaches, physicians and parents. An ATC has advanced training that allows him or her to distinguish between injuries that need medical attention and injuries that require rest or a change in the athletes play and/or practice routine. ATCs also rely heavily on the physician's guidance when making any decisions and can recommend the best medical channel for the athlete to seek. This can mean the difference between a player missing a few games versus sitting out the whole season.

A successful season is a team effort both on and off the field. It is crucial that athletes have behind the scenes support so they can focus on playing the game and enjoying healthy competition.

Gary Katz, PT, ATC, CSCS is the President and Founder of Maryland SportsCare & Rehab. He can be reached at athletictrainer@mdsportscare.com.