We are all starting to get antsy as we anticipate the warmer weather heading our way this spring. With early spring, new sports are in season! If your kids are getting a little stir crazy, then everyone in the household is probably ready for them to get back on the field. You also need to make sure they are ready to hit the ground running as soon as the season begins.
At ORTHOKnox here in East Tennessee, we wish you a fun-filled and injury-free spring season, but we are here for you if your child is injured on the field. Our sports medicine team, including board-certified orthopaedic surgeons and physical therapists, is available to expertly treat sprains, strains, fractures, and tears in our Knoxville or Athens clinics. We have compiled our top tips to help you prep your child so they have the best sports season yet!
- Keep Them Active
During the winter season, there is less opportunity to get exercise outside. But it is extremely important that you keep your kids active, especially if they are going to jump straight into a sport as soon as spring arrives. Activities such as jogging, bundling up and shooting some hoops, swimming in an indoor pool, and even trying out fitness video games can help keep your child healthy and prepared for the upcoming season. Try to follow the coach’s condition plan if one is available. Also, do not be afraid to jump in with them! It is important for you to get your exercise, too!
- Gradual Progression
Ease your child back into their sport by increasing exercise time until you have built up to a full-length practice, gradually increasing reps or weights, and pacing them during exercise. Make sure they are getting plenty of rest in between their exercise and their practices once the season begins.
- Prep Their Equipment
If you have not already, dig out all of their sports equipment. Check everything for holes and make sure it still fits! Also, take this opportunity to air it out and wipe it down if needed.
- Nutrition and Hydration
As always, it is key to stay hydrated even leading up to the spring season. It is often easier to make sure your kids are drinking water when they are on the field, but it is just as important in the offseason to ensure they stay hydrated. In addition, eating healthy fruits and vegetables for vitamins and minerals, along with lean protein and carbohydrates, helps them to be healthy overall and energized for the upcoming season. Avoiding processed and sugary foods is always a good call, too!
- Get Their Heads in the Game
Make sure to always encourage your kids on and off the field. Help them to set achievable goals for the upcoming season, such as making twenty passes, making two new friends, and running 2 miles a week. Getting enough sleep is also important for both mental and physical health. Kids from 3 to 12 years need from 10 to 12 hours of sleep, and kids from 13 to 18 years need around 8 to 9 hours.
While proper preparation for spring sports will hopefully allow your kids to have the best time and stay injury-free, accidents happen. With its board-certified surgeons and new Urgent Orthpaedic Care that is available without an appointment, ORTHOKnox has got you covered if your child is injured on the field.
For more information about how ORTHOKnox can treat your child’s injury, call (865) 251-3030, or fill out our easy-to-use online appointment request form. We look forward to hearing from you!
