STAY IN THE GAME! Injury Prevention for Young Football Players As David mentions on this month’s cover, football season is here! While we at the clinic are all fans of tossing around the pigskin, we’re also no strangers to the kinds of injuries this full-contact sport can cause — especially to kids. If you have a child or teen on the football squad, here are some things to watch out for. MORE THAN GROWING PAINS
CONCUSSIONS The most notorious of football injuries, concussions, are still painfully common in football
As much as kids love to mimic the moves of their favorite NFL stars, these professional players have something young football players lack: fully grown bodies. Children and teens grow a lot from year to year, which makes their bodies more vulnerable, especially where contact sports are concerned. “Growth plates,” the parts of the body that are still developing, can be damaged by repetitive collisions, stunting growth. The best way to prevent this is by taking Dave’s advice and conditioning your athlete year- round. Properly warming up before every practice or game is also vital. GOING OVERBOARD As important as conditioning is, training can be overdone. Injuries from overuse are common for everyone: young footballers, weekend warriors, and NFL players alike. Because of the constant bending and squatting the sport requires, lower-back and knee pain frequently develop. This, paired with an intense training regimen, can lead to the pain sticking around since you aren’t giving it a chance to heal. Make sure that your young athlete knows that rest days aren’t just a break; they’re an important part of training
despite efforts to make the sport safer. It’s important to know the symptoms of a concussion because they can often go undetected, putting your child at risk of further injury. If your athlete complains about persistent headaches, nausea, drowsiness, or blurred vision, or if they appear to be having memory or attention problems, call a medical professional. Unfortunately, the only way to prevent concussions is to practice proper tackling techniques, never leading with the head. You will have to trust that the players on the other team will do the same. We always prefer prevention over treatment, but, if your child does get hurt, we’ll do all we can to get them back on the field.
BASIL BERRY SORBET Unlike standard ice cream recipes, this delicious sorbet doesn’t require fancy equipment or difficult prep. It’s also entirely dairy-free, making it the perfect vegan treat for the end of summer.
• 1 cup sugar • 1 cup fresh basil leaves INGREDIENTS
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6 cups frozen mixed berries
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3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
DIRECTIONS
1. In a saucepan over high heat, combine sugar with 1 cup of water, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves, creating a syrup-like consistency. 2. Remove syrup from heat, add basil, cover, and let stand for 15 minutes. Strain syrup into bowl and refrigerate until cold. 3. In a blender, combine syrup with frozen berries and lemon juice. Purée until smooth. 4. Transfer to a square baking pan, cover in plastic wrap, and freeze until set, about 2 hours. 5. Scoop and serve.
Inspired by Good Housekeeping
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