Parents Guide to at Home Care of Athletic Injuries Presented by: St Francis Sports Medicine

 Acute Injury: has specific mechanism of injury and immediate onset of pain  Examples of symptoms seen:  Sudden pain  Bleeding  Deformity  Swelling  Disabling Pain  Chronic Injury: no specific mechanism; overuse injury  Examples of symptoms seen:  Swelling  Pain at beginning activity that may get better once “warmed up”  Dull ache when at rest; unexplained pain Acute vs. Chronic Injury

 Discomforting pain:  Pain, but still able to continue activity  Could limp at first, still able to play through  Disabling pain: (when to be concerned)  Pain to point of unable to continue activity  Loss of function  Noticeable limp or unable to tolerate weight  Holding injured extremity in position that is different from the norm Discomforting vs. Disabling pain

 Certified Athletic Trainer  Primary Healthcare Provide  Sports medicine specialist in consultation with family physician  If ever any doubt, Emergency room Who Should we see for my child’s injury ?

 Injury causes severe pain, swelling, or numbness  Unable to tolerate weight on the injured area (disabling pain)  Pain comes progressively worse When should I see them?

 Suspected broken bone  Dislocation  Cuts that need stitches  Any life threatening injury  Suspected head injury When should we go to ER?

 When inflammation is suspected use COLD  Typically first hours we use cold  Ice minutes  Heat is typically safe to use 1 week after injury  Heat should be used before activity and ice to follow activity  Heat minutes; important to ensure that heat is not to warm to avoid burning  NOTE: If any doubt, use COLD. Should I use heat or cold for injury?

 R. elative Rest  I. ce  C. ompression  E. levation How should I take care of my child's injury at home?

 Relative Rest  Important part of initial care to ensure proper healing  Ice  20 minutes every 1 ½ to 2 hours with crushed ice or equivalent of. (i.e. frozen bag of corn or peas)  Compression  Wrap ice on injured area to hold in place and compress but not in a constrictive way  Elevation  If possible, elevate the injured body part above the heart What is R.I.C.E.?

 Acetaminophen is typically used for pain  Ex: Tylenol  Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory (NSAID) medications are typically used when inflammation is suspected  Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or Aleve  NOTE: It is very important to consult with family physician for choice selection or any questions. It is better to ask then to have your child take the wrong medication. What medicine should I give my child for injury?

 It is important to check in regularly with athletic trainer throughout injury process for follow-up and progression  After released by doctor, see Athletic Trainer for Functional Progression Program  Group of sport specific functional activities that athlete must pass before return to play  Program encompasses the following areas:  Strength  Proprioception  Agility  Power  Speed  Confidence for return to play When should they return to play?