Pediatricians recommend that children follow the 5-2-1- almost none guideline for a healthy lifestyle. This refers to 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, no more than 2 hours a day of screen time (TV, computer or game system), 1 or more hours of physical activity every day and almost NO juices or sugary drinks, like soda.
These days our kids are very programmed and when they participate in sports, it is often very intense, such as travel soccer teams, competitive dance teams, and more than 1 sport per season. They are starting these teams and activities younger and younger!
When children have a schedule like this, they may be at risk for Overuse Injuries. An Overuse injury is one that happens over time. It is often characterized as “Too Much, Too Soon” when one tries to push themselves to train too hard too fast. It is when “repetitive actions place too much stress is put on the bones and muscles.”
There is no magic number and no one right answer. Don’t have them stop participating all together, just be sure they stretch and warm up those muscles before they start and listen to your child if they are complaining of pain.
For more information on Overuse Injuries, how to prevent them and other sports related injuries visit: http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/outdoor/sports_safety.html#
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