RISK OF INJURY TO CHILDREN.

George Johnson believes that any injury to a child has the potential to be serious. In children the strength of the tendons, the ligaments and the muscles is greater than that of the bones, while this situation is reversed in adults. This means that children usually suffer skeletal injuries as a result of accidents or overuse. The bony attachment of the ligament or muscle is torn away from the bone instead of the muscle or ligament itself tearing. When a child has met with an accident or injury and tenderness, swelling and   effusion of blood are present in the injured area, an x-ray examination should be carried out.   A displacement of   a fragment by only a few millimeters can impair future functioning of the ligaments or muscles if the injury is not treated correctly.   With that in mind every injury should be checked by a health care professional and following that the correct treatment and rehabilitation programme followed to ensure no lasting damage will occure. Having two children of his own (one an International Athlete) and having worked in the center of excellence at Gillingham Football Club   with youngsters between the ages of six to sixteen for many years, George also understands the reluctance of parents to let a complete stranger treat their child. It is therefore important to know that the person you are seeing is expierenced and has treated many youngsters before. George has a Enhanced Disclosure, No 001103996333, for that added peace of mind.

Regular training of children is becoming more common in sport, and competitive sports are indulged in ever-increasing intensity at ever-decreasing ages.

If we are to keep our children as injury free as possible and keep them interested in their sport (ever more difficult in this day and age), there are some guidelines we should all follow.

TRAINING IN DIFFERENT AGE GROUPS.

7-9 YEARS OF AGE:     PLAY, TECHNIQUE AND ALL ROUND TRAINING.

Training of children between the ages of seven and nine years should above all be full of variation and fun, that is, the play element should predominate. Light fitness training including different ball games is suitable. All round training should be the aim. Technique training should be introduced now, as children of this age are very receptive to learning.

10-11 YEARS OF AGE: GENERAL BASIC TRAINING, TECHNIQUE TRAINING AND ALL ROUND TRAINING.

Training of children between the ages ten to eleven should include technique and co-ordination exercises since this is an excellent time for improving reflexes and mobility technique by training. Play elements are important features in the training, but systematic fitness training and anaerobic training are not meaningful during this period.

12-14 YEARS OF AGE: GENERAL FITNESS TRAINING AND LEARNING OF TECHNIQUE AND TACTICS.

During the age period twelve to fourteen years, which partly coincides with puberty, there are many rapid changes in growth and maturity, both physically and mentally. The training must be adjusted to the maturity of the individual youngster. The body is, both physically and mentally, in a sensitive stage of development, and this must be taken into account. The play element should be given ample scope. Technique training can also be carried out since the ability to learn continues to be high during this period of growth. Some specialization can begin in the sports for which the young athletes have shown talent. They can be introduced to tactical methods.

15-16 YEARS:   PREPARATION FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING.

In the period fifteen to sixteen years basic physical fitness must be built up, and therefore regular fitness training should become a habit. anaerobic training can now begin. Comprehensive flexibility training is of great importance during this period, since growth often makes young people stiff and unsupple. Strength training can start when the muscles and skeleton allow an increased load. Young people at the age of fifteen to sixteen can start to learn the correct lifting technique, but should only use light weights. A heavy load should not be used as the skeleton has not yet stopped growing. The strength training should be intensified by increasing the number of times an element of exercise is carried out, not by increasing the load. It is important that the athletes spare their backs from overload by using the correct lifting technique. During this period, specialization in different sports can be undertaken.

OVER 16 YEARS OF AGE:     SPECIALIZED TRAINING.

Young people who are over sixteen years of age can participate in specialized training which does not differ appreciable from that of adults. Growth in girls tends to be complete by the age of sixteen to eighteen years while the development of boys continues up to the age of eighteen to twenty years.

GENERAL COMMENTS.

When it comes to training and competition for children and adolescents there has to be an awareness of the risks this entails, both in the short and in the long term. Knowledge of the special characteristics of the musculo-skeletal system in growing youngsters is therefore of great importance. There is a need to question training methods which make such hard, monotonous and regular demands that sport becomes agony rather than the enjoyable pastime it should be. The aim should be to encourage a large number of young people to become active athletes that a vast pool will be available from which top athletes can be produced in the long run.

SOME POINTS TO REMEMBER.

1. Children are not miniature adults, they are unique at every stage of their development.
2. Girls mature 2 to 3 years earlier than boys.
3. Exercise, along with adequate diet, is essential for bone growth. Exercise affects bone width, density and strength but has little effect on length.
4. Children have lower evaporation heat loss than adults because they sweat less.
5. Children appear to have greater conductive heat loss than adults, which may place them at greater risk of hypothermia in cold environments.

Preventing young people suffering "overuse" injuries should be the prime concern of all people involved with youngsters participating in sports activities. It is the responsibility of everyone, parents, teachers, coaches, managers, physiotherapist's and all other health care professionals   to look after young athletes medical interests.   The increasing intensity in sport often leads to the more "gifted athlete" being allowed, or encrouraged, to participate too long, too often.

The "catch 'em young"philosophy may lead to a "kill 'em off early" reality.

DRUGS - PLEASE READ ADVICE PAGE.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD IS TAKING DRUGS.

There are no easy or obvious answers to this question, sometimes it can be better to trust your instinct than go searching for telltale signs, however there are some typical warning signs of drug use, which are described below:

• Sudden and regular changes in mood.
• Secretive behaviour.
• Sudden change of friends.
• Loss of interest   in former activities.
• Loss of appetite, drowsiness.
• Unusual aggression.
• Lack of concern for personal hygiene/appearence.
• Evidence of drug use such as burnt tin foil, empty aerosols, home made pipes or syringes.

It's important to remember that some of the above (especially the changes in behaviour) can occur without drugs playing any part. Someone might just be going through a difficult period - adolescence, for example, and their behavior may not necessarily be related to drug use.

HELP AND INFORMATION.

FRANK - TEL 0800 776600

Offers free and confidential advice about drugs all day, every day, and can refer you on to local drug services.

www.talktofrank.com

VERY YOUNG CHILDREN.

  All   toddlers have flat feet because of a low   angle of calcaneal inclination (heel bone angle), by five or six years this angle has increased, and , in most cases, a medial longitudinal arch (the arch under your foot) becomes apparent. This inclination of the calcaneus (forming of an arch) is vital to the foot, as if there is a reduced or negative calcaneal inclination (a flat foot) the planter aponeurosis (a tendon under the foot) will be lengthened, the right mechanism will   not occur, and the foot will not achieve supination (an arch) at the propulsive phase of gait (when they walk). The most significant feature of pathological flat foot is bulging in the inside underneath of the foot. The arch is usually low, but not always compleatly absent. These changes and more render the foot ineffectual at withstanding the forces of ground reaction, which are highest at the propulsive phase of gait.

WHAT CAN WE DO.

Early treatment is vital, for if a child continues to walk on this foot type, the condition rapidly becomes irretrevable. Control of the child's foot needs to be achieved quickly and comfortably by utilizing a special type of orthotic that supports and restores alignment to this part of the foot. Restoring alignment in this way helps to maintain the stability of the foot. Support of the foot also controls the internal leg rotation associated with flat feet and thereby reduces other symptoms such as knee pain (e.g. osgood-schlatters   disease). Prevention of the collapse of the medal arch   will reduce the strain on supportive ligaments and other soft tissues, thereby allowing the child to enjoy running and walking whilst remaining symptom free.

CONDITIONS TREATABLE WITH ORTHOTICS INCLUDE:

• Tired and aching feet.  
• Planter fasciitis (pain on the soles of the feet).                                                                                                                                                                                    
• Planter heel pain.
• Achilles pain
• Ankle pain.
• Shin and calf pain.
• Knee pain.

If your Kids suffer any of these problems, get in touch with George as soon as possible. An assessment will be carried out and treatment/preventative measures used to give your child a more active and painfree lifestyle.                                                   TELL A FREIND. ----