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As a parent, you want to make sure that your teen athlete is safe while they participate in sports. Injuries are common among young athletes and can be life-altering if not addressed quickly and correctly. The best thing you can do is prepare ahead of time to prevent injury in the first place. In this article, we’ll discuss three ways you can ensure that your teen stays healthy and injury-free. By following these tips, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your teen athlete is as safe as possible on the field or court!
Make Sure They Wear Proper Equipment
Many sports, including contact sports, have requisite safety equipment that all players use. Ensuring your teen has the proper equipment, however, goes beyond just the pads everyone else uses. They need the right clothes that fit correctly to reduce the risk of skin irritation or chafing. Athletic shoes should be comfortable and well-fitting, with support that matches the demands of each specific sport. It’s also important to make sure that the protective gear they do use is in good repair and functions properly. This can include helmets, padding and other pieces of equipment specific to the activity.
Be Careful with Braces
Athletes with braces need to be extra careful with their mouth and teeth in order to avoid injury. This is especially important for contact sports, where sudden and forceful impacts can have a more significant effect on the mouth area than other areas of the body. Traditional braces can make it harder to protect the teeth and gums because they are bulky and can easily tear at the lips. Invisalign can help prevent these kinds of mouth injuries since they don’t protrude out from the teeth as much. At the very least, it’s important they wear a properly molded mouth-guard to keep the hard impacts from damaging their teeth.
Make Sure They Get Rest
Rest is a very important factor for any athlete’s recovery. It gives the body time to heal from any injuries as well as replenishing energy reserves so they are ready to perform at their highest level. Rest also helps maintain an athlete’s overall mental and emotional health, reducing stress levels and preventing burnout. Teens are teens, so they may resist the idea of slowing down because they don’t realize how tired their body is. Beside making sure they get enough sleep, you can also encourage them to engage in activities outside of sports – such as reading or playing a musical instrument – that don’t require the same level of physical exertion.
You want what’s best for your student athlete, and you should be proud! Helping them stay safe while they participate is one way you can show our commitment to their success. With these tips, you can set your student athlete up for a great and memorable experience that will stay with them long after the season is over.
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