Parent and Coaches Guide

1. Parent and Coaches Guide Prevention & Care of Common Sport/Activity-relatedInjuries

2. Parent and Coaches Guide Sponsored by the Pennsylvania Athletic Trainers’ Society and the over 1300 certified Athletic Trainers in the Commonwealth.

3. Athletic Training Recognized by the American Medical Association, athletic training is an allied health profession dedicated to the provision of quality health care for the physically active.

4. Athletic Training What can Certified Athletic Trainers do?

5. Athletic Training Scope of Practice • Prevention of Injuries and Illnesses • Emergency Management and Treatment • Recognition and Evaluation

6. Athletic Training Scope of Practice • Rehabilitation and Reconditioning • Organization and Administration • Continuous Health Education

7. PTA & PATS Partnership Keeping Our Kids Safe Athletic Trainers’ Week October 8th - 14th

8. PTA & PATS Partnership Dedicated to helping to educate parents and coaches to prevent common injuries from occurring to children who are participating in sports and other physical activities

9. PTA & PATS Partnership Six Principles to Safeguard Children’s Health 1. Ensure that children receive a general health exam and an orthopedic exam prior to participating in organized sports activities 2. Ensure that children always wear appropriate safety gear and equipment the fits and receive instruction on its proper use 3. Determine if child/children is/are physically and psychologically conditioned, trained, and matched with opposing kids

10. PTA & PATS Partnership Six Principles to Safeguard Children’s Health 4. Ensure that children are supervised at all times by a responsible adult who strictly enforces rules and who has a plan to deal with emergencies 5. Ensure that children drink adequate amounts of fluid prior to, during, and following activities and eat a health diet 6. Ensure that the playing environment is safe

11. Parent and Coaches Guide Common Injuries & Conditions • Fractures • Sprains and Strains • Tendinitis • Bruises • Concussions

12. Parent and Coaches Guide • Myth #1 It’s not a broken bone, because my child can still move the joint.

13. Parent and Coaches Guide Joint movement is rarely an indicator of a fracture. The only way to truly confirm a fracture is by x-ray. However, there are a few simple guidelines to help you identify a fracture at home.

14. Parent and Coaches Guide Indications of a Fracture may include.. * Deformity * Pain that keeps the child awake at night * Swelling and pain over a bone that persists for more than a few days

15. Parent and Coaches Guide A fracture is any disruption (break, chip, or crack) in a bone

16. Parent and Coaches Guide Fractures are normally NOT an emergency situation UNLESS either blood flow is interrupted OR the nerves are affected (loss of sensation or unable to use the body area)

17. Parent and Coaches Guide What should I do if I suspect my child has a fracture? * Contact your family physician * Apply ice to the area * Splint to prevent joints above and below the injury from moving * Elevate the body part; if possible

18. Parent and Coaches Guide • Myth #2 A fracture will hurt more than a sprain or strain.

19. Parent and Coaches Guide Pain tolerance varies from person to person. A sprain or strain can be as painful as a fracture.When in doubt, contact your family physician.

20. Parent and Coaches Guide • Sprain Stretching or tearing of ligaments. Usually occurs to the “outside” of the ankle where there is less ligamentous support

22. Parent and Coaches Guide • Strain Stretching or tearing of muscle and/or tendon. Usually caused by an overstretching or overstressing a muscle

24. Parent and Coaches Guide • Indications of a Sprain may include.. * Swelling over a joint area * Pain with joint movement, particularly the movement that caused the injury

25. Parent and Coaches Guide • Indications of a Strain include… * Pain when the muscle or tendon is used or stretched * May be some swelling * May be a divot or deformity

26. Parent and Coaches Guide • What should I do if I suspect my child has a sprain or strain? * Protection * Rest * Ice * Compression * Elevation

27. Parent and Coaches Guide • Protection • Protect that child from further injury or harm by removing him/her from the activity

28. Parent and Coaches Guide • Rest • If unable to walk normally, should be on crutches; splints or slings for upper extremity • Avoid excessive use, but some motion is helpful - within the painfree range of motion

29. Parent and Coaches Guide • Ice • Encase area with ice bag(s) • Apply for 15-20 minutes every hour • Avoid using heat

30. Parent and Coaches Guide • Compression • Apply elastic wrap • Be sure that wrap is not too tight or too lose

31. Parent and Coaches Guide • Elevation • The injured body area should be elevated at least to the level of the heart

32. Parent and Coaches Guide • Myth #3 Once my child has been “cleared” by the physician, it is okay for my child to return to full activity immediately.

33. Parent and Coaches Guide • All athletes should be evaluated and pass functional tests before returning to full activity. If your child can do some, but not all activities without pain or disability, he/she should not participate fully and should be put on a rehabilitation program.

34. Parent and Coaches Guide Functional Testing - Lower Body • Bear full weight - both, one leg • Jump (two)--> Hop (one foot) • Jog --> Sprint forward/backward • Figure 8 • Sport Specific Activities • Cutting and Running motion

35. Parent and CoachesGuide Functional Testing - Upper Body (activity-dependent) • Four Corner Touch • Throwing - vary distance and intensity • Push-up • Sport Specific activities

36. Parent and Coaches Guide • Myth #4 Tendinitis appears suddenly and is difficult to distinguish from a strain.

37. Parent and Coaches Guide Tendinitis, an inflammation of a tendon, usually “appears” gradually over a course of a week or two. Usually, there is no one incident that causes the injury.

38. Parent and Coaches Guide Indications of a Tendinitis include … * Pain that appears gradually over a few weeks * Pain that is worse in the AM * Pain is lessened when area is warm but returns when activity stops/area cooled

39. Parent and Coaches Guide • What should I do if I suspect my child has tendinitis? * Rest the body area * Ice; then heat or ice * OTC anti-inflammatories * Return to activity gradually after pain ceases

40. Parent and Coaches Guide • Myth #5 It’s no big deal, it is only a bruise.

41. Parent and Coaches Guide A bruise is a closed wound; there is internal bleeding. If not properly handled, calcium deposits could form in the muscle belly. You usually will not “see” bruising immediately.

42. Parent and Coaches Guide • Indications of a “new” bruise include * Redness of skin at the point of contact * Warmth or heat in the area * Swelling or mild deformity

43. Parent and Coaches Guide • What should I do if I suspect that my child has a bruise? * PRICE * Mild, active range of motion * Protection from reinjury

44. Parent and Coaches Guide • Myth #6 Not to worry, my child doesn’t have a concussion. He just has a headache.

45. Parent and Coaches Guide • Cerebral Concussion • Grade 1 - Dazed and disoriented; “bell rung” • Grade 2 - Minor confusion/amnesia, headache, unsteady, tinnitus

46. Parent and Coaches Guide • Cerebral Concussion • Grade 3 - Same symptoms as Grade 2 plus loss of memory of events before the injury • Grade 4 - “Knocked out” plus loss of memory

47. Parent and Coaches Guide • What symptoms should parents watch for at home? • Mild headaches and slight nausea are common symptoms. Monitor child for next 24-48 hours to check for worsening symptoms.

48. Parent and Coaches Guide • Do not give athlete aspirin • If hungry, eat lightly • Observe for worsening condition

49. Parent and Coaches Guide • Worsening Symptoms * Dizziness, blurred vision * Confusion, tinnitus * Severe headache, disorientation * Severe nausea or vomiting

50. Parent and Coaches Guide • Worsening Symptoms * Pupils of eyes unequal in size or do not respond to light * Bleeding from nose, ear canal or mouth * Change of sensation or coordination of extremities