CQ: How does sports medicine address the demands of specific athletes?

1. CQ: How does sports medicine address the demands of specific athletes?

2. Children and young athletes • Certain conditions affecting children and young athletes in sport need to be managed correctly • It is important for sports medicine practitioners to be aware of these

3. Medical conditions : Asthma • Asthma is a condition characterised by breathing difficulty where there is a reduction of the width of the airways leading to the lungs resulting in less air being available to them

4. Asthma and exercise • If not managed correctly asthma can affect performance but should not be an excuse to avoid participation in sport. ( except in extreme cases) • Activity can provoke an asthma attack-exercise-induced asthma (EIA). • During this condition, the airways are dilated during the physical activity but constrict immediately activity ceases, leading to an asthma attack

5. Some activities will provoke an attack more than others- which is linked to cooling of nerve ending in air passages • Activity is however seen as being beneficial • Swimming is the most preferred form of activity as it is less likely to cause attack

6. Measures to help and control • Controlled breathing and relaxation exercises • Gradual warm up and leisurely warm down • Steady exercise intensity • Medication- before • Consume adequate water • Remove athlete from environment if it triggers attack

7. First Aid- see pg 417 • 4. 4. 4 • 4 PUFFS • 4 BREATHS • 4 MINUTES

8. Diabetes • Diabetes - Children and young athletes who suffer from Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes have special considerations that need to be taken into account when exercising. • They need to regulate their blood glucose (or sugar) levels so they can participate effectively. • Pre game meals and glucose supplements hourly are important

9. benefits • Better response to insulin and better blood sugar control- Exercise makes insulin work better in the body, which helps someone with diabetes keep their blood sugar levels in a healthier range • Weight management

10. Epilepsy • Epilepsy - Children and young athletes who are diagnosed with epilepsy and use medication to control seizures can participate in most physical activities • A coach or trainer should be aware of any child they are training who has epilepsy. • They have a responsibility to implement appropriate management measures which have been recommended by their medical practitioner and parent/carer. • Some activities should be avoided however- eg collision sports swimming alone, rock climbing etc

11. Overuse injuries • Overuse injuries (in particular stress fractures) can be caused by a number of factors, including inadequate warm up, poor technique or faulty equipment, too much training or training at a high intensity for a long period of time. In this case, prevention is always better than cure.

12. treatment • Rest, medication, physical therapy or a combination of these measures may be prescribed by a medical practitioner to recover from an overuse injury

13. Thermoregulation • Refers to the maintenance of a stable internal temperature independent of the external environment temperature

14. When exercising in the heat, children usually have a higher core temperature than adults. • This is due to a number of factors including sweating less and a reduced sweat mechanism. • They need regular breaks (preferably in the shade), regular sips of water and appropriate clothing

15. In contrast, in colder temperatures children can be more susceptible to the cold. They need appropriate clothing and exercise to keep warm

16. Appropriateness of resistance training • Safe programs • Low weights high reps • Young athletes should focus on skills and technique when using resistance training. • Eg Body weight activities and build to resistance • Avoid strength specialisation • See your book for age considerations