Participation in sports is vital for children. There are numerous health benefits associated with participation in organised sports. As a parent, it’s essential to understand the potential risks of contact sports and the precautions needed to keep your child safe. Written by Dr Maraschin, expert paediatrician.
The long-term benefits include better overall mental health in young adolescents, decreased illnesses related to obesity, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, improved bone density in women who played sports in their teens, and enhanced self-esteem, self-concept, and positive temperaments. For younger children starting in soccer or netball teams, there are immediate benefits such as teamwork, learning to encourage each other, losing with dignity and winning with grace, following rules, and sharing. Children with these skills have been shown to develop into well-rounded adults. But what about the injuries?
I clearly remember my son’s first rugby match. The boys were only allowed to start playing rugby in grade 8, so the enthusiasm was tremendous, but the skill required attention. At one point, my son found himself under a pile of bodies with the ball very close to his head. One of his teammates kicked with gusto in an attempt to free the ball but instead kicked my son’s head. Needless to say, when the group of boys carried on chasing the ball, my son sat bewildered on the grass, not sure what had happened. He spent the next three days at home nursing a concussion.
Sport-Related injuries in youth
Unfortunately, our enthusiastic budding sports stars are more prone to sports injuries than adults. This can be attributed to their growth plates not being fused, slower reaction times, and the fact that they are still developing their eye-hand coordination.
Most injuries can be associated with poorly fitting sports gear, inadequate warm-up, poor technique, or overuse of specific muscles. The most common injuries involve shoulders, wrists, knees, ankles, and broken bones. While these are painful, they are usually easily treated. The more significant concern arises when a child sustains a head injury, which may result in a concussion or a longer-lasting issue.
What is a concussion?
A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that can occur after head trauma. When a child receives a sudden blow or impact to the head, it may cause a mild injury to the brain, disrupting how it works. The brain, made of a jelly-like substance, is encased in a hard skull. It is not designed to be flung forward into the skull, rotated, or stopped suddenly when it collides with the skull.
These situations can happen if two children run into each other and bang heads, the ball hits the child’s head, or the child’s head hits the ground in a fall. Even without a direct blow to the head, a concussion can occur if the neck snaps back suddenly (Whiplash). This movement causes the brain to move forward fast and then come to a sudden halt against the skull. Whether from a blow to the head or whiplash to the neck, brain cells can get damaged, and there can be chemical changes in the brain.
Signs of a concussion
- Headache
- Excessive sleepiness or difficulty waking
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Loss of consciousness
- Blurred or double vision
- Light sensitivity
- Trouble focusing
- Confusion
- Strange behaviour
- Unusually sized pupils
- Headache that worsens, lasts long or is extremely painful
- Weakness or numbness
- Difficulty walking or talking
- Seizures
- Sudden changes in behaviour or thinking
- Unusual fatigue
- Sadness
- Feeling foggy or not thinking clearly
What to do if you suspect a concussion
- It used to be thought that concussion was always associated with a loss of consciousness. We now know this is not the case. Watch for symptoms if your child has experienced a blow to the head or whiplash. Symptoms may not be evident immediately and can develop over a few days.
- Seek medical advice if you are concerned about a head injury.
- The healthcare provider will perform a concussion evaluation to determine the extent of the head injury.
- Beyond the symptoms listed above, the healthcare provider will conduct a neurological assessment to check functions like reflexes, strength, coordination, sensation, and mental status.
- If your child has had a baseline concussion test before the head injury, this will be a valuable tool to revisit to compare scores.
Caring for a child with concussion
- Ensure your child gets plenty of physical rest, including at least 10 hours of sleep.
- Your child’s brain also needs rest, so homework and studying should stop for a few days.
- Avoid all screen time for at least 48 hours after the injury.
Major concerns around concussion
- A concussion is considered a “minor traumatic brain injury” (TBI).
- Most children recover from the injury within two to three days.
- If your child is involved in a sport where there is a chance of repeated concussions, be concerned.
- It’s critical that the head is protected during healing. Returning to sports while recovering from a concussion increases the chance of getting hurt again due to slowed reaction times.
- A second head injury can cause more serious issues.
- Post-concussion syndrome occurs when symptoms persist for longer than a week, causing difficulty with concentration, headaches or migraines, excessive tiredness, memory loss, and personality changes.
- Repetitive brain injuries can lead to long-term effects.
- A recent study among young athletes who died before the age of 30 highlighted the need for vigilance around head injuries in children playing contact sports.
- The sports highlighted in the study were rugby, hockey, soccer, and wrestling. Additional sports include any involving frequent falls or sudden movements causing head injury or whiplash.
- Multiple concussions can result in a progressive brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
- For more information on CTE, you can read a comprehensive article in the journal JAMA Neurology.
Moving forward with contact sports
As a paediatrician, I fully support physical activity for children. The sedentary lifestyle associated with TV, computers, and cell phones negatively impacts children’s development. More children require physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy because they no longer play. Screen time is at an all-time high, and the associated downsides are evident.
I want to see children outside, exercising, learning to be team players, and gaining maturity around winning and losing. However, it must be done responsibly.
Tips for Parents
- Allow your child to participate in age-appropriate sports.
- Ensure they have properly fitting safety gear.
- Encourage a variety of activities to develop all muscles.
- Insist on downtime.
- If there is an injury, attend to it and follow the guidelines.
- Be aware of ongoing injuries and take appropriate action.
Tips for Schools or Sports Clubs
- Instill age restrictions on full contact.
- Provide non-impact practice sessions.
- Enforce safety rules strictly, with harsh consequences for infractions.
- Limit the number of head injuries a child can experience in sports.
Conclusion
Physical activity and sports are crucial to a healthy body and soul. This generation faces more health problems associated with poor lifestyle choices than ever before. As we encourage our children to get outdoors, let’s remind them to do so safely. Lives can be abruptly changed if care isn’t taken to protect children from injuries. Many of these injuries can have lifelong consequences. We aim to raise happy, healthy, strong, and capable young adults with a full range of skills and a love for life.
References:
https://vestibular.org/article/diagnosis-treatment/types-of-vestibular-disorders
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