Treating Kids’ Minor Sports Injuries

If your child participates in an organized sport this year, it’s very likely he or she will experience some sort of minor injury. According to the National Institute of Health, an estimated 30 million children and adolescents participate in organized sports each year in the United States. Of those children, 3.2 million between the ages of 5 and 14 are injured while participating in athletic activities.

Some of the most common minor sports injuries children and adolescents experience are sprains, strains, bruising and contusions. To immediately relieve the pain and swelling, immediately use ice or a topical anesthetic.

In conjunction with the use of ice or a topical anesthetic, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) recommends that the most effective way to treat an acute injury, such as an ankle sprain, is through R.I.C.E., which stands for Rest, Ice, Compress and Elevate.

• Rest: Moving about will lead to more inflammation and pain.
• Ice: Cold will reduce swelling and pain. Use a skin refrigerant such as Gebauer’s Instant Ice immediately following injury, but use an ice pack or bag as recommended above.
• Compress: Control swelling through application of a light pressure wrap.
• Elevate: Elevate the area to reduce swelling by draining the fluids through gravity.

Courtesy of ARA Content