Sports Injuries: What you can do to stop them!

As the fall high school sports season starts up, we need to re-think the approach we take to the healthcare of our kids. Youth and high school sports are a big part of the development, both physically and mentally, of kids. Because of this, it’s imperative we keep them healthy and active throughout their seasons. For the most part, the only time an athlete would ever consider seeing his or her Sports Medicine provider is when he or she is injured. This would suggest there is absolutely nothing beneficial that can be done for an athlete prior to an injury. Imagine if the auto, financial and dental industry functioned with those guidelines.

Unfortunately, there is very little, if any, insurance coverage for un-injured athletes. Insurance guidelines are designed for the mass population—primarily those who don’t exercise, who are not conditioned, and whose bodies break down from under-use and abuse. The health issues suffered by the majority of the population and which are covered by insurance are far different from those who use exercise as a big part of their life! Diabetes, heart disease, mental disorders and other degenerative illnesses are very common in our overall population. High school athletes tend to suffer from overuse injuries and strains to their muscles and joints. They also need to get back to the game quickly. The 70% of the population that doesn’t exercise (and have conditions that insurance will cover) don’t have those same goals in mind when it comes to their health.

Personally, I think that it’s crazy that an athlete’s “square peg” injuries must fit into the “round hole” of insurance guidelines. Athletes must first wait until they’re injured, then begin with their primary doctor who typically has limited knowledge of many sports injuries, and then refers the injured athlete to another provider looking to quickly, and cost effectively, help the athlete to eliminate the symptoms.

But what about the underlying cause? Most athletic injuries are from overuse syndromes or structural imbalances and distortions. We need to start addressing these imbalances and restrictions before they result in symptoms and injury. This is done through athlete conditioning and injury prevention—not just treatment once the injury occurs.

If we want the same results for our kids that the majority of the population gets when it comes to their health, then we don’t need to change anything. However, if we want our kids to enjoy long and healthy careers with limited time missed due to injury, we need to re-think our approach to their health.
In addition to the standard physical exam, our kids should receive a Muscle & Joint Structure and Function Exam as well. This exam consists of physical and functional tests as well as standing x-rays, looking for structural imbalances and wear and tear. This exam can pinpoint weak points in the athlete’s biomechanics and musculoskeletal system. It can be performed on every athlete with or without symptoms. It is best if athletes are examined before their season begins, as structural defects and imbalances can be detected anytime. While it’s hard to change one’s mindset to address problems before they’re causing symptoms, those problems are most easily treated while they’re still small problems, and not big injuries. Once examined, we often find the athlete is suffering with many deferred maintenance conditions, and proper treatment and exercises are necessary to correct these conditions before they become full blown injuries.

With the data collected on the exam, the goal is to objectively improve range of motion in all joints, improve flexibility of key muscle groups, improve alignment and other structural measurements, as well as help the athlete to move further and further away from the vulnerability line of injury. A body that functions with better ranges of motion, stronger and more flexible muscles, and with fewer muscles and joints compensating for other weaker muscles and joints, will simply be less likely to be injured. It’s that simple, and that’s what our kids deserve!

Until athletes begin caring for their structures and muscles on a pro-active and preventive basis, they will most likely end up as victims in this current health care system that really has no place for them. In an effort to avoid these frustrations and enjoy more time out on the field, the diamond, and the court, the above recommendations should help tremendously. Each year more parents and their children get on board with this approach. I suggest you do the same.