Concussion Management: Kids

Should I let my kids play contact sports?

As a chiropractor and medical director for a number of local teams, I have had numerous hours of training and have been certified in concussion testing and concussion management. I do believe that concussions are an issue, but if managed properly (just as any injury), prognosis and recovery are very good.

I’ve debated with numerous people about the risks of concussion in contact sports. Would I let my child play a contact sport? Without hesitation: YES! But I also make sure that they are set up to be able to protect themselves while playing these sports.

Although there may be some implications with joining a sport including a concussion, some muscle strain, joint sprain, or fractured bones. There are ways to also prevent these issues by ensuring that your child is well geared up in protection. This along with periodic visits to a doctor for checkups.

Let’s look at the benefits of sport:

There are numerous amount of benefits when it comes to putting you kids into sports that can sometimes outweigh the possibility of an injury. Some of these benefits include strategy and learning to work together with others toward a common goal, meeting new friends (some lifelong friends), mental stimulation and improved fitness.

I believe that the risks for disease(s) are higher for those who choose not to be active (playing video games), for those who choose to smoke or drink, for those that go out to cause trouble in the evenings because they are not playing a sport.

In simple terms, contact sports do not have a risk of concussion problems. However, utilizing proper concussion management will set your child up for success in contact sports.

Want to learn more? Check out this article by Medical News Today