Healthy Kids - Spring 2021

EXERC I SE Get Moving! (Safely) How to boost your motivation and keep your springtime activities injury-free

For athletes eager to get back in the game, Dr. Edmonds cautions to take it slow to prevent injuries. He says his clinic has seen an uptick in overuse injuries in kids and teens attempting to do too much, too soon. Muscles begin to atrophy over time, and their skills may not be as sharp as they used to be. It’s important to build up gradually. “With the pandemic, we have seen a decrease in participation in organized sports, but that’s going to change,” Dr. Edmonds says. “By having stopped completely, all of a sudden when it comes time to get back outside, kids are going to be a little bit deconditioned.” Start slow, stretch, cross train in an array of activities that use different muscle groups, and above all, find ways to have fun.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS recommends that kids ages 6 and up get 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity a day, but as team sporting events were canceled and students switched to distance learning, squeezing that hour in got tough. Now that a return to more normal activities is in sight, you may be ready to ease back into it. The best way to get your kids moving is to get moving yourself, says Eric Edmonds, MD, director of 360 Sports Medicine at Rady Children’s: “Kids look up to their parents, whether parents think they do or not. And if parents are at home spending time on the computer or their phones, that’s what the kids are going to emulate.” Take advantage of San Diego’s excellent weather. Go to the beach, take a hike, take a family bike ride in your neighborhood, or just go outside and play. If you’re including people from outside your household, remember to keep your distance, wear a mask and practice hand hygiene.

THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR KIDS MOVING IS TO GET MOVING YOURSELF

SPRING 2021 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE 9

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