Recovering from injuries.
We all love watching our kids ply sports, but the ugly truth is sometimes we have to watch our kids get hurt. While we may do everything to protect them and suit them up in the best protective gear, injuries happen. If our kids are going to play sports, then we must have a proactive plan for dealing with injuries.
In my twelve year semi pro football career, I had three surgeries. 2008 I took a late hit to my left knee and had to have ACL and MCL reconstruction. 2011 it was diagnosed that I was deaf in my left ear and I had a stapedectomy. 2014 I was cut blocked at defensive tackle and blew out my clavicle and had to have clavicle reattachment surgery. This past December, I caught a blood clot in my left leg and the next day my aorta dissected and I had a femoral bypass and open heart surgery with an aortic graft and quad bypass on back to back days.
The bumps, bruises and sprains are almost routine, but what do we do when it is serious. Broken bones, concussions and surgeries are becoming way too common for our little league athletes. What do we do? How do we combat injuries? Well it starts with proper recovery from the minor injuries. I had sprained my ACL/MCL before my late hit, I had multiple concussions one season because I didn’t properly recover and I have fingers that dont bend properly from not getting them set when they were injured.
Rest is key when it comes to any injury. Since heart surgeries, I have had days where I do nothing and I have to be okay with that, The same goes for your little athlete. Not only do they need to rest their body, but they need a mental break from the game sometimes as well. Take a break from the game. Have the fans and siblings hang out with your athlete in a different scenery. Family day at the beach, a trip to the local shave ice or maybe a game night. The people who support your athlete should refrain from talking sports and just enjoy the time with the athlete.
Rehab is the chance to get out yours and their frustration. Rehabilitation hurts and causes discomfort. Rehab takes consistency and sometimes taking steps back to get you back to 100%. Everyone responds differently in rehab and everyone has a different rehab journey. Your physical therapist may offer some cutting edge techniques or be old school and have a tried and tested method. Either way, rehab is the second step to recovery.
Mental exercises are the biggest thing people do not talk about. In 2008 after surgery, I would be so worried after every hit to my knee. I wasn’t playing the same because I was scared to get hurt again. I had another teammate who swore he was hurt on purpose only to review film and see his Achilles blew with nobody around. You have to talk to your athlete about mentally preparing themselves to compete again. You have to talk with them about the trauma of being injured and having to recover. For some, you may not have to do anything.
Overall, injuries will happen but we cannot let them become reoccurring injuries. Mentally and physically your athletes needs a break and a reset. Take a break, find an outlet and take the time to properly heal. Concussions and knee surgeries are rampant in youth sports and have long term effects. It is our job as parents and coaches to keep our kids safe and avoid long term repercussions from youth sports injuries.