Transcript HEALTH AND NUTRITION FOR THE YOUNG ATHLETE Dr

HEALTH AND NUTRITION
FOR THE YOUNG ATHLETE
Dr. Diane Dubinsky
August 26, 2003
INTRODUCITON
• Young athletes are not merely small adults.
• Their bones, muscles, and ligaments are still
growing
• They grow and develop at different rates
• At age 9, the weight of a child can vary as
much as 50 lbs.!
• Height and weight discrepancies make them
more vulnerable to injury
It is the responsibility of the
parents and coaches to ensure
that each child’s body is
respected for its stage of growth
and that no child is pushed to the
point of injury.
INJURIES IN THE YOUNG
ALTHETE
• Federal data indicate that there are
approximately 227,000 injuries to children
ages 7-17 each year due to soccer alone
• 15% of these injuries are due to overuse
Assessing Pain in the Young
Athlete
• Children often experience some discomfort with
athletic activity – usually expressed as minor
aches and pains
• Due to the risk of serious injury in the child, their
complaints always deserve careful attention
• Sometimes it is difficult to determine if a child has
a “real” injury
• PAIN is the body’s response to injury.
Assessing Pain
• Each person feels pain differently
• “Does it hurt a lot?” – What does this mean?
• Use the Rule of “1-10” to help assess pain in
children
• This requires advance preparation
• Ask child to remember previous injuries and rate
the minor pains as a “1” and the worst pain they
have ever felt as a “10”
• Use this scale when you are on the field or
sideline.
Assessing Injury
• Does the child “use” the affected area? (e.g. can
they bear weight?)
• If use or bearing weight increase the pain – DO
NOT PLAY
• Is it swollen?
– R-I-C-E
– Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
– If so, DO NOT PLAY
• Is there numbness, tingling, or shooting pain? If
so, DO NOT PLAY
Assessing Injury – Cont.
• Respect a child’s reaction to pain
– If crying or scared – reassure and DO NOT PLAY
• NEVER expect a child to “work through the pain”
• Often injured athletes want to “tough it out”
• Coaches and parents must be “tough” to protect
young players.
• Don’t be afraid to take a child out of the game!
Common Injuries
• STRAIN – muscle injury
caused by over stretching
or over exertion of the
muscle
• Signs and Symptoms –
pain with movement,
accompanied with little or
no swelling
• Treatment – rest, ice if
needed (acute) – heat
(later)
• SPRAIN – ligaments are
stretched or torn, usually
associated with joint
injuries
• Signs and Symptoms “pop” or “snap” is felt,
inability to bear weight,
loss of motion, swelling,
discoloration
• Treatment – R-I-C-E,
medical evaluation, x-ray
When to See A Doctor
• Inability to play following an acute or sudden
injury
• Decreased ability to play because of chronic or
long-tern complications following an injury
• Visible deformity of the athlete’s arms or legs
• Sever pain from acute injuries which prevent the
use of an arm or leg
Growth Plate Injuries
• Growth plate is a soft area near the ends of the
bones that allow the bones to grow
• Physics 101 – a force will affect the weakest area
first – therefore, in a child, the growth plate is
more likely to be injured rather than the ligaments.
• An injury that normally would cause a sprain in an
adult, is more likely to cause a growth plate injury
in a child.
• Sprains in children should be evaluated by a
physician
OSGOOD-SCHLATTER
• What is it?
– The patellar (knee) tendon inserts into the tibial
tuberosity (growth plate) just below the knee
– Overuse (constant pulling) of the tendon on the soft
growing bone causes inflammation, pain, and swelling
– Ice massage before and after games helps
– Anti-inflammatory medication at the direction of your
physician may help
– Let the athlete allow the pain to guide their activity
Head Injury
• Loss of Consciousness – call 911 – even if
child regains consciousness
• Concussion –
– Dizziness, headache, sensitivity to light
– Nausea, vomiting, amnesia, memory loss
NEVER ALLOW A CHILD WITH A HEAD
INJURY BACK ONTO THE FIELD
WITHOUT MEDICAL EVALUATION!
FLUIDS
• Water, water, water
• Don’t wait for thirst
• Sports drinks
– Contain high amounts of sodium and potassium
– Only needed for endurance athletes - > 90 minutes of
aerobic activity
– Children like to imitate adult – if they’ll drink, its better
than them not drinking
• How much water?
– 3-8 ounces 20 minutes prior to game/practice
– 3-8 ounces every 20 minutes during game/practice
– 6-8 ounces after game/practice
NUTRITION
• Teach young athletes about good nutrition
• Foods high in carbohydrates provide athletes with
the energy their muscles need
– Healthy carbohydrates - whole grains, etc
• Encourage 4 servings per day of calcium-rich
foods like milk, cheese, yogurt
• Encourage 4-5 servings per day of fruits and
vegetables
• SUPPLEMENTS ARE NOT NECESSARY!
HEALTHY CARBOHYDRATE
SNACKS
• Whole-grain ready-to-eat cereal with low-fat or
skim milk
• Low-fat fruit flavored yogurt
• Peanut butter on whole wheat toast and ½ apple
• Lean meat on pita bread with ½ cut orange juice
• Graham or animal crackers and box of raisins
• Low-fat frozen yogurt and 100% grape juice
• Oatmeal raisin cookie and low fat milk
• Low fat pudding, bagel, and 100% apple juice