THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 17, 1996 TAG: 9609170448
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C9 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAT DOOLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 107 lines
In the off-season, even the best athlete may be tempted to spend more time on the sofa or seashore than in the gym.
That's where a parent's influence can begin, experts say.
Make sure your teenage athlete stays active, said Terry Zablocki, an athletic trainer at Old Dominion University. Encourage bicycling, swimming, running, weight-training, even yardwork in the offseason.
``It's tough for kids who don't do anything all summer . . . to go to football practice and be able to get right in there and play,'' said Dr. R. Brick Campbell, an orthopedic surgeon in Norfolk.
Exercise in summer helps the athlete acclimate to heat, and averts back-to-school sports mishaps caused by too much activity too soon.
Ask questions about your child's athletic program. Are there adequate pre-practice and pregame stretches and warmups? Does equipment - including helmets, shoes and pads - fit properly? Is it in good condition? Is the playing terrain free of hazards?
Most local schools offer parents' night for athletics at the beginning of the year. Get to know the coach and trainer and attend events if possible.
The National Athletic Trainers Association and the Virginia High School League recommend a thorough preseason physical every other year to rule out problems that make play hazardous.
Most schools require an exam that checks height, weight, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, eyes, ears, nose, chest and abdomen. An orthopedic exam should focus on joint flexibility, range of motion and a re-examination of past injuries.
At home, emphasize proper nutrition, including pastas, whole grains, fruits, vegetables and small amounts of fat and protein. That diet promotes energy, endurance and faster healing, Zablocki said.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of water before, during and after activity, she said. Discourage use of caffeinated beverages, such as cola, which deplete the body of water. Suggest lemonade, juices and sports drinks instead.
Make sure your teen gets plenty of rest, and watch for signs of injuries - limping, diminished appetite, irritability or use of ibuprofen. An overzealous athlete may try to hide pain, Zablocki said.
``If they say they're hurt,'' she said, ``the coach might not play them.''
Never pressure your child to succeed, says the academy of pediatrics. Help your child set goals and strive to reach them.
Generally, stress caused by sports is minor compared to other worries that are part of growing up, the academy says.
Sports, in fact, can teach the skills for coping and lessen anxiety and depression.
``Most people are distracted . . . by running around the soccer field or whatever, until they're exhausted,'' said Campbell. ``All of a sudden, little problems tend to go away.'' MEMO: GLOSSARY
If your teen plays athletics, here are some terms to become familiar
with, from ``Youth Sports Injuries'' by Dr. John F. Duff (MacMillan,
1992), and the American Academy of Pediatrics:
Achilles tendon: the large tendon at the heel of the foot.
Acute injury: a sudden injury caused by a strike or blow.
Anterior cruciate ligament: or ACL, a major ligament in the front
central region of the knee. Common in contact sports, especially among
young women.
``Bell ringer'': a blow to the head; may cause a concussion.
Bursitis: inflammation of the bursa, a soft, fluid-filled sac that
minimizes friction near joints.
Cartilage: the surface tissue of a joint.
Cauliflower ear: a swelling on the upper edge of the ear, caused in
wrestling when the ear is crushed on the mat.
Chronic injury: caused by repetition or overuse, as with tennis
elbow.
Concussion: a head injury involving brain impairment, such as
disturbed vision and altered consciousness.
Contusion: a bruise.
Dislocation: displacement of the bones of a joint.
Femur: the large thigh bone connecting the hip and knee joints.
Fibula: the smaller of the two leg bones.
Fracture: a break in a bone.
Hamstring: large muscle in the back of the thigh.
Humerus: the large bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow.
Jumper's knee: a pain at the base of the kneecap, caused by jumping
in sports such as basketball.
Lateral collateral ligament: the ligament on the outer side of the
knee joint.
Lateral meniscus: cartilage absorbing shock, between the bones on the
outer side of the knee joint.
Ligament: Fibrous tissue that connects bones and holds a joint
together.
Medial: on the inner side of the body.
Navicular: a bone in the wrist and in the foot.
Patella: the kneecap.
Quadriceps: large muscle in the front of the thigh.
Rotator cuff: large, flat shoulder tendon that facilitates motion.
Separation: the coming apart of a joint.
Spearing: Lowering the head and using the helmet to ram an opponent
in football; outlawed in 1976.
Sprains: Injuries to the ligaments, which connect one bone to
another.
Strains: Injuries to muscles.
Tendon: fibrous tissue connecting muscle to bone.
Tendinitis: inflammation of a tendon.
Tibia: the large leg bone between the knee and ankle.
[RELATED STORY ON PAGE C1.]
KEYWORDS: SPORTS MEDICINE SPORTS INJURIES by CNB