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Healthy Living - Exercise
Soccer kids need protection
In recent years, participation in soccer has skyrocketed. With
increasing numbers of children running and kicking their way down
soccer fields, several chiropractic organizations have developed
guidelines to help parents take a step back and learn how to protect
their children from the potential injuries this popular sport can
cause.
Although soccer can be a great overall sport for children, some
youngsters are enduring mild to severe head traumas, neck injuries,
damage to the cervical spine, headache, neck pain, dizziness,
irritability, and insomnia as a result of their participation,
according to the September 2000 issue of the Journal of the American
Chiropractic Association (JACA). Each year in the U.S. alone, youths
under age 15 suffer more than 227,100 soccer-related injuries,
according to recent reports.
Heading the Ball: A Risk for Children
"People have this misconception that soccer has no risk," says Scott
Bautch, DC, past president of the American Chiropractic Association's
(ACA) Council on Occupational Health, who has five children currently
playing soccer. "I think soccer is too aggressive too early, which is
leading to potential problems." Soccer requires three basic skills -
kicking, trapping, and heading the ball, (the deliberate use of the
head to redirect the ball). It's that last one - heading (the
deliberate use of the head to redirect the ball) - that stirs concern
about the potential for injury.
Philip Santiago, DC, who was an All-American soccer player in
college and a professional player for five years, says that heading is
safe only when children are given "proper coaching in proper
technique." Dr. Santiago has also served for five years as head soccer
coach at both New York Institute of Technology and Montclair State
University, and was the chiropractor for the United States Olympic
Team in 1992. Dr. Santiago would like to see youngsters hold off
heading until age 10 or 11. Dr. Bautch prefers age 14 to 16, based on
maturation and development of the spine.
Helmets: Not A Complete Solution
Some school districts are now requiring helmets for young soccer
players. While helmets may protect young soccer players from some brain
and head trauma, i.e. concussions, Dr. Bautch explains that helmets
don't protect the spine and don't make up for too-aggressive play.
"They are just a small piece that may give some protection," he
explains. "I'd hate to see kids wear helmets and have people think that
the kids are safe and that they don't have to teach safety and
prevention. I would rather see no heading without helmets in young
kids, and let helmets be introduced later."
In pre-teen years of a child's life, the spine has not matured. Even
throughout adolescence, maturation of the spinal structures is ongoing.
This makes the cervical vertebrae highly susceptible to subluxations
early in life -- subluxations which may not manifest as symptoms for
some time, possibly years.
Prevention and Treatment of Injuries
Parents are encouraged to promote a broad spectrum of sports -- for
example, soccer, skating and skiing -- to develop the whole body.
"Over-playing and over-training are problems exacerbated by ambitious
parents, peer pressure and adult role models. Children need their rest
time," suggests the American Chiropractic Association.
If an injury occurs, think RICE - rest, ice, compression, and
elevation of the injury - which is the recommended procedure. Keep the
injury iced until the swelling is down, applying ice no longer than a
20-minute session. After 20 minutes, ice fatigues the blood vessels and
causes a heat reaction that actually increases swelling. Leave the ice
off for about an hour and reapply. Further, parents should consider
taking their child to their family chiropractor within 24 hours of the
injury, for a spinal evaluation. It is rare for a sports injury to
occur, without either being directly related to vertebral subluxation,
or causing a concurrent subluxation in the process.
Other Recommendations for Soccer Safety
Parents can help protect their children from soccer injuries. Many
of the participants at a recent Consumer Product Safety Commission
roundtable insisted that parents and coaches already have the tools at
their disposal. Among them are:
- teaching and use of proper heading technique
- use of smaller balls for younger players
- strict enforcement of rules
- padding of goal posts
- use of mouth guards
- improved supervision by health professionals at games
- coaches educated in symptoms of brain injury
- proper nutrition, including plenty of water to keep muscles hydrated
Portions of this article provided by:
The American Chiropractic Association
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