When you think of fall, one of the first things you might think about is fall sports! Is your child participating in a sport this season?

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Louisville wants you to help keep your athletes safe and injury-free this sports season. Read on as we offer some perspective.

How Many Sports Should a Kid Play?

A recent study stated that around 60 million children ages six to 18 living in the United States play in organized sports every year. Of those 60 million young athletes, 27% participate in only one sport.

This actually isn’t the best strategy. It’s a better idea for your child’s growth and development for him or her to participate in more than one sport or type of physical activity. That’s because sticking with one sport can lead to overuse injuries.

Common Sports Injuries

• Ankle sprain
• Groin pull
• Hamstring strain
• Shin splints
• ACL tear
• Tennis elbow

Can Sports Injuries Be Prevented?

Yes, in many cases sports injuries can be prevented. The first step toward preventing injury is ensuring your child is wearing sport-specific protective equipment during all practices and games.

Beyond that step, you can also promote injury prevention by ensuring your child learns and practices proper technique. Performing any type of movement in an incorrect way is a recipe for injury.

Benefits of Sports

• Regular exercise
• Stronger relationships
• Improved leadership skills
• Boosted self-esteem
• Improved time management skills
• Ability to handle adversity
• Teamwork

At AFC Urgent Care Louisville, we’re looking forward to providing our community with affordable, high-quality care.