How to Get Your Kids Ready for Spring Sports

Spring means excitement for children who are involved in organized sports. It also brings extra responsibilities to parents who must drive their kids to practices and games, while also collecting all the proper paperwork to make sure their kids will be eligible. To make your spring athletics safe and manageable, consider the following helpful guide.
Getting a Physical
To participate in organized athletics, children are often required to get an updated physical examination. Unfortunately, it's not always easy for busy parents to schedule convenient appointments at busy primary care offices that are often overbooked. To meet the need for seasonal sports physicals, PhysicianOne Urgent Care offers walk-in visits for children and parents in need of examinations for spring sporting events.
A smart solution for rapidly approaching deadlines, this quick, convenient service ensures that your child is growing and developing normally. It also makes sure there are no underlying conditions that might make a particular sport risky, while providing all the necessary paperwork you need to make your child eligible for organized athletics.

Setting Your Kids Up for Safety and Success
While they help build character, teamwork and social skills, sports also come with risk. You can minimize the chances of injury by taking the following precautions:

• Make sure helmets fit properly, especially if your child is in a growth spurt.
• Protect teeth by having your child wear a mouth guard for any contact sport.
• Talk to your child’s coach to make sure you have the right safety gear.
• Make sure your child eats before practice and games.
• Ensure that your child gets plenty of sleep.
• Provide plenty of hydration before, during and after practice and games.
• Encourage children to report any injuries or strange sensations.
• Properly warm up and cool down before and after activity.

Coping with Injury
It's not uncommon for children to suffer injuries during athletic competition. If your child has experienced a head injury, chest pain, severe bone break, uncontrolled bleeding or any troubling sensations that might indicate a stroke or cardiac event, you should visit an emergency room. If, on the other hand, your child endures a sprain, bone fracture or minor cut, PhysicianOne Urgent Care can provide timely, expert medical attention at a fraction of the cost. While all parents hope for a safe sports season, it's smart to have a plan of action in case an unforeseen injury requires medical care.