Kids almost always have high energy. As a result, your children should be participating in sports and other physical activities to be healthy and happy. However, with sports play come injuries. Falls, bumps, scraps, and other injuries are common issues when raising active children.
Determining the severity of an injury on your own is nearly impossible, and children’s injuries are particularly serious because their bodies are still growing. An ignored injury could have lifelong repercussions if not treated quickly and effectively.
For this reason, children’s sports injuries should not be taken lightly despite the fact that they are resilient and heal quickly. Find the nearest pediatric urgent care clinic in the event that your child sustains a non-life-threatening sports injury.
Here are the most common injuries that children incur when playing sports.
Ankle Sprains
One of the most common kids’ sports injuries are sprained ankles. A sprained ankle often happens when the ankle twists or changes direction in a sudden and forceful manner. The ligaments in the lower leg can overstretch or even tear due to the force.
This type of injury is most common when playing sports like basketball, soccer, football, and baseball. An ankle sprain may be confused with a non-displaced growth plate fracture, which is why it’s important to seek urgent care for a suspected ankle sprain, or any injury for that matter.
Hamstring/ Knee Strains
A strain is an overuse injury that usually occurs when there is a sudden increase in physical activity levels (specifically in repetitive movements). Hamstring and knee strains happen when a tear develops in a muscle or tendon due to continuous pressure. Some examples of sports that cause strains are soccer, football, and wrestling.
Little League Elbow
Also referred to as medial apophysitis, this is a common injury among children who play sports that require the frequent and forceful use of the elbow. It is an overuse injury that develops when the arm is moved in repetitive and forceful movements. It is common among children who play little league baseball, because it requires them to pitch and throw repeatedly.
Bone Fractures
Kids and adults alike can experience bone fractures, however, in the case of children, fractures can occur in a growth plate. Children have growth plates in the ends of the long bones in their bodies. The growth plates are necessary for children’s bones to grow into adult-sized bones. However, growth plates can make children susceptible to serious fractures. If a fracture happens in a growth plate, it requires immediate treatment, otherwise lifelong issues can result.
Pediatric Orthopedic Urgent Care in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
There are few things as distressing as seeing your child in pain after a sports injury. At Patient Care Now Urgent Care, we are proud to offer urgent orthopedic care to pediatric patients with orthopedic injuries. In our urgent care facility, we are able to set minor fractures, stitch up cuts and wounds, and prescribe medications.
Should your child need a specialist, we facilitate a fast transfer to a physician, so your child can get access to the care they need as quickly as possible. We also make sure to closely coordinate your child’s care with your pediatrician.
In case of a sports injury, visit us at our urgent care facility. There’s no need for an appointment, but you can call ahead at (267) 202-6433 to let us know you’re coming. Our skilled team of board-certified physicians, orthopedic specialists, and supporting staff look forward to taking care of you and your child.
