Multisport avoids the risk of chronic injuries in children
Always practicing the same sport increases the risk of suffering chronic injuries, a pathology that is increasing in children. The cause is the realization of repetitive movements with the practice of a single sport, something totally discouraged by specialists, who warn that children should not specialize in a single sport activity until 14 or 15 years.
Sport and its two sides of the same coin
Faced with the evil of sedentary lifestyle, sport is the best alternative for children, but it is necessary to teach them to take care of themselves to avoid injuries, since due to their growth they are susceptible to certain specific sports injuries that do not take place in adults. An example is the one can affect the growing cartilage, whose fracture can affect the developing bone causing shortening or undesirable angulations.
Injuries from microtrauma or overload are also typical of other growth zones. The lesion causing the pain of the anterior aspect of the upper part of the tibia, near the knee, which is called Osgood-Schlatter disease.
Along these lines, Dr. Arriaza, a specialist in Sports Traumatology at the HM Modelo Hospital and director of the Arriaza and Associates Medical Institute, affirms that "the appearance of children in injuries in the knee ligaments similar to those seen in adults, and that make them have to be operated at an early age to restore stability to the knees. "
Risk factors for sports injuries in children
Among the main risk factors for chronic injuries in children is the constant repetition of movements and the lack of proper equipment.
1. Continuous repetition of the same movement. It is very important to respect the characteristics of the anatomy of children because they are not adults in small. Although they can perform a sports activity without getting tired for longer than an adult, their body tolerates poorly the constant repetition of the same movement. According to Dr. Arriaza, "this causes most of the chronic injuries in children, ideally, the little ones learn initially the basic skills, such as running or jumping, so that later, little by little, they can focus on some sport, but without abandoning the other activities at least until 14-15 years ".
2. Specialization in a specific sport. Sometimes it is the parents and the coaches who invite the children to specialize precociously in a specific sport to guarantee their success in adulthood. But scientific studies and statistics show that this is not always the case and, in fact, it seems that it increases the risk of them leaving the sport.
3. Incorrect equipment. A typical example is the purchase by imitation of their idols of the elongated and deep studs used by professionals in football boots. While they are allowed to turn and brake faster in natural grass, children go badly on artificial turf. The elongated and deep studs increase the risk of knee injury in general, but adults have more strength in the stabilizing muscles and compensate for this situation. In contrast, children still do not have enough stabilizing force and the risk of injury increases. To play football on artificial grass fields, children should wear short multi-court boots.
Another example is related to winter sports such as skiing, ice skating or snowboarding. As the season lasts little and children grow up fast, parents sometimes buy large sizes to use for two seasons. "It is better to rent equipment or use the wide market of buying and selling this material that is in almost all cities where these sports are practiced, in which it is easy to acquire equipment in perfect condition to renew it every season", recommends the doctor .
The other problem is that many times the entire skiing or snowboard activity is concentrated in a week, with many hours of activity each day and a lot of accumulated fatigue, which added to the logical lack of perception of the danger and the limitations of these ages , causes that the central days of the week are of greater risk of injuries. In these cases, it must be the parents or those responsible for the trip who have to set limits and also insist on an adequate night's rest.
How to prevent sports injuries in children
1. Advice from a professional. Trained trainers are the ones who know the best preventive measures that can be used.
2. Warm up and stretch. Both activities before and after sports training can reduce the risks of knee and ankle injuries in children by up to 60 percent.
3. Practice several sports. Avoid repetition of movements with the practice of only one sport and instilling in children good habits of "physical education" to teach them to listen to their body will avoid overloads to maintain good muscle shape throughout their lives.
Marisol Nuevo Espin
Advice: Dr. Rafael Arriaza, specialist in Sports Traumatology Hospital HM Modelo and director of the Arriaza y Asociados Medical Institute.
