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COLUMN BY MARK W. EARNHART, D. C. |
Previous columnsLifestyle Changes to Enhance Your Health Omega-3 Oils in the Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia |
SPORTS INJURIES AND KIDS
posted 06/15/09 The basic treatment for mild strains and sprains is still the same: RICE = rest, ice, compress and elevate. Pediatric orthopedists get involved when the injury is more serious such as broken arms or legs. But there are other issues, and every parent needs to be aware of these possibilities. In one of the unusual chains of circumstances that make the practice of chiropractic so interesting, a physical trauma (like a sports injury) can reveal an underlying serious problem. In other words, various disorders of bone may not show themselves in terms of symptoms until a physical trauma makes them apparent. Such problems include metabolic disorders, growth development problems, and even benign and malignant tumors. What would make a parent suspect such an issue? First, if the child’s pain seems out-of-proportion to the degree of the injury. A mild knee sprain - for example, caused by tripping over second base while trying to stretch a double into a triple - should not cause significant pain. Also, mild to moderate injuries should not be warm to the touch. A parent can evaluate this. And, a child should not be running a fever after and activity related injury. It would also be suspicious if the pain did not improve daily. For the majority of injuries, pain that lingers beyond several days suggests an underlying problem. Children are resilient. Healthy kids heal quickly. They want to shrug off and injury, forget it happened, and get back to playing. If you child isn’t getting better in a few days, seems lethargic, or feels ill following an injury, warning bells should go off. Your family chiropractor is familiar with all such conditions and scenarios. He or she is always alert to unusual situations and will recommend the appropriate steps to take, including a complete physical and x-ray examination as required. If necessary, your chiropractor will be able to recommend appropriate specialists for follow-up. These more serious problems are uncommon. In our office, using gentle chiropractic adjustments, lasers and percussion instruments to relax muscles and fascia, recovery for sprains and strains can be sped up considerabley. Any questions? Please call us at 378-5660 or go to our website at sanjuanholistichealthcare.com.
Yours in Health,
Yours in health, |
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