Health & Wellness Library Children's Health Andrews Institute

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Children's Health Andrews Institute

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  • A competitive barrel racer succeeds after pediatric hand surgery at Children's Health

    Article

    A competitive barrel racer succeeds after pediatric hand surgery at Children's Health

    Shylynne, known as "Shy" to her friends and family, has loved horses for as long as she can remember. She got her first horse, Shirley, to ride around in her backyard when she was just 4 years old. Around the time she turned 6, she discovered her passion: competitive barrel racing. This rodeo event for women times a rider while she completes a cloverleaf pattern around three barrels, showcasing the athleticism and skill of both the horse and the rider.

  • A young ballerina doesn't let injury hold her back

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    A young ballerina doesn't let injury hold her back

    Hannah has felt "at home" on the dance floor since she took her first ballet class at just 2 years old. Over the years, she has expanded her repertoire to include tap, jazz and hip-hop, but her first love of ballet – and now pointe – is evident. The 14-year-old trains around 23 hours a week at a Dallas-area dance studio.

  • An aspiring Olympic athlete requires ankle surgery and finds support at Children's Health

    Article

    An aspiring Olympic athlete requires ankle surgery and finds support at Children's Health

    When Tina Myers received a call from her son's gymnastics coach in September 2015, it was unsettling news – her son, Phillip, who was 13 years old at the time, had been injured at practice. He had landed awkwardly on his ankle, and something wasn't right. It would be frightening news for any parent, but for the mom of an elite athlete it was especially alarming. Mrs. Myers immediately picked up Phillip and raced him to the ER at Children’s Medical Center Plano.

  • Anthony finds multidisciplinary support after ATV injury

    Article

    Anthony finds multidisciplinary support after ATV injury

    Anthony, a freshman goalie on his high school soccer team, and his cousin were driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) in April 2019, when they lost control of the vehicle. Anthony was trapped beneath the ATV when it flipped and landed on him. Because such severe accidents carry a high risk of internal injury, he was quickly transported by helicopter to a nearby emergency room. There, doctors determined his injuries required Level 1 pediatric trauma care, and he was immediately transferred to Children's Medical Center Dallas.

  • Back pain in children and teens

    Article

    Back pain in children and teens

    Adults aren't the only ones who suffer from back pain. Children and teens – particularly those who participate in competitive sports – are also likely to experience upper or lower back pain. In fact, one study found that as many as one in three adolescents ages 10 to 18 experienced back pain in the past year.

  • Athletes and eating disorders

    Article

    Athletes and eating disorders

    Playing sports teaches valuable lessons in teamwork, perseverance, goal-setting and hard work. But a desire to be the best can also lead some athletes to develop unhealthy behaviors, including unstable dieting habits and eating disorders.

  • Why is goal setting important for athletes?

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    Why is goal setting important for athletes?

    Athletes who excel on the court or on the field can make highlight-worthy plays look easy. But performing well at game time requires a lot of work behind the scenes.

  • The benefits of baseline testing for your young athlete

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    The benefits of baseline testing for your young athlete

    It's never too early to be prepared when it comes to your young athlete's health. If a sports concussion occurs, it is vital to measure the function of the brain post-injury. Baseline testing while healthy can help health care professionals assess the effects of a concussion on an individual athlete and develop a plan for treatment.

  • How to cope and stay motivated after a sports injury

    Article

    How to cope and stay motivated after a sports injury

    A sports injury can be a major blow to athletes – physically and emotionally. "Sports is a major part of many athletes' identities," explains Scott Burkhart, Psy.D., neuropsychologist at Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. "When athletes are suddenly injured, time away from practice and games can be very unnerving and upsetting."

  • Fuel your young athlete: Healthy lunch ideas

    Article

    Fuel your young athlete: Healthy lunch ideas

    During the school year, young athletes are busier than ever, juggling schoolwork along with practice and, in many cases, multiple training sessions per day. Proper nutrition is key for students to stay healthy and meet the demands of their day.

  • Identifying and treating joint pain in children

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    Identifying and treating joint pain in children

    When kids or teenagers feel aches and pains in their knees or other joints, they may tell you directly – or they may begin to act differently. Troy Smurawa, M.D., Director of Pediatric Sports Medicine at Children's Health℠ Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, explains that while joint pain is rare in children, growing pains in the bones can be confused for joint pain and cause parents concern.

  • How do you know if it's a concussion?

    Article

    How do you know if it's a concussion?

    Accidents can happen in sports, but what are the proper steps to take if your child has been hit in the head? As a parent, it is important to know what to look for if you suspect that your child may be suffering from a sports concussion.

  • How to prevent ACL tears

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    How to prevent ACL tears

    ACL injuries affect as many as 250,000 Americans each year. These injuries are more common among teen athletes, especially females, and the rates are on the rise.

  • Tips to avoid and treat turf toe in young athletes

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    Tips to avoid and treat turf toe in young athletes

    During football season, you may hear about an injury called turf toe. The term turf toe refers to a common injury among athletes. While turf toe is most common in football players, it also affects players of other sports such as basketball, wrestling and gymnastics.

  • Ready, Set, Train: Run a 5k with your family

    Article

    Ready, Set, Train: Run a 5k with your family

    Signing up your family for a race together is a great way to combine exercise with quality time. There are many family-friendly races available, whether with different themes (mud runs, bubble runs, superhero runs, etc.) or supporting a cause you care about.

  • Common sports injuries: What is a hip pointer?

    Article

    Common sports injuries: What is a hip pointer?

    A "hip pointer" is an injury that occurs from a blunt impact on the point of the hip called the "iliac crest". This type of injury is common among football players but can occur in players of all sports.

  • Is it safe to sleep after a concussion?

    Article

    Is it safe to sleep after a concussion?

    If you suspect your child is suffering from a sports concussion, the most important thing you can do is to get him or her evaluated by a medical professional soon after the injury. Once your child has been diagnosed with a concussion, it is important to let him or her sleep, as rest encourages healing of the brain.

  • Spine injury: Children in sports at risk for slipped disks

    Article

    Spine injury: Children in sports at risk for slipped disks

    Young athletes face their share of bumps and scrapes, but first aid kits aren’t the solution to every injury. If your child has recurring lower back pain or spondylolysis, they may be at risk for a slipped disk in the spine.

  • Sideline medical tents offer high school athletes faster, more private care

    Article

    Sideline medical tents offer high school athletes faster, more private care

    At high school sports games throughout the region, you may notice something new on the sidelines: a medical tent. Each year, more than 2.6 million children are treated nationwide for sports-related injuries. To help care for these injuries, Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine strives to use pioneering techniques to evaluate young athletes on the field.

  • How to prevent infections for young athletes

    Article

    How to prevent infections for young athletes

    Young athletes spend a lot of time together on the field, in the locker room, traveling to games and more. While this quality time is great for team bonding, it also makes it easy for infections to spread from player to player.

  • Fractured vertebra: More common than you think in young athletes

    Article

    Fractured vertebra: More common than you think in young athletes

    Your young athlete works hard to be at the top of their game. It can be difficult to know what aches are normal and what pains need a doctor's attention. If your child frequently bends or twists their back during sports and they experience frequent lower back pain, it might be time to ask their doctor about spondylolysis.

  • Tips to prevent dehydration in young athletes

    Article

    Tips to prevent dehydration in young athletes

    All those sprints, laps and drills can take their toll on athletes, especially when the weather is hot. Athletes are at risk of dehydration if they don't get enough fluid. Fluids are needed to replace what is lost through the skin as sweat and through the lungs while breathing.

  • Tips to help your child develop good posture

    Article

    Tips to help your child develop good posture

    Standing up straight and tall not only helps your child appear more confident, it also helps relieve muscle strain, backaches and neck aches. Developing good posture as your child grows has long-term benefits that will pay off throughout their lifetime.

  • Survival guide: Your young athlete and two-a-day practices

    Article

    Survival guide: Your young athlete and two-a-day practices

    These extra training sessions help to accelerate physical conditioning, skill development and team cohesion. However, athletes can experience increased amounts of physical and psychological stress during these multi-session practices. Troy Smurawa, M.D., is the Director of Pediatric Sports Medicine at the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. He shares tips to help your athlete survive two-a-days and get the most out of each workout.

  • How to minimize risk of a sports concussion

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    How to minimize risk of a sports concussion

    As concussion awareness becomes more prevalent, many parents and athletes wonder what steps they can take to prevent sports concussions from happening. While there is no one way to prevent a sports concussion, young athletes can still take steps to minimize their risk.

  • Tips to help motivate your child to exercise

    Article

    Tips to help motivate your child to exercise

    According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should get one hour of exercise each day. "Exercise is at the forefront of physical health," says Performance Manager Josh Adams, M.S., C.S.C.S., Children's Health Andrews Institute Sports Performance powered by EXOS. "Exercise helps children strengthen growing muscles and bones and is part of a healthy lifestyle, combined with quality nutrition and adequate sleep."

  • The importance of cognitive skills in sports

    Article

    The importance of cognitive skills in sports

    Social distancing and uncertainty in sports play and practice have created a unique opportunity for young athletes. While they may be unable to spend as much time running drills or lifting weights with teammates, each athlete can focus on a part of their performance that often gets overlooked – cognitive skills.

  • The benefits of off-season training

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    The benefits of off-season training

    During summer or other times of year, many athletes will have a welcome break from regular season practice and competition. The off-season is the time of year that falls between post-season competition and pre-season training. This time offers athletes a unique opportunity to rest, recuperate and improve their overall athletic ability.

  • Why baseball pitch counts matter in young athletes

    Article

    Why baseball pitch counts matter in young athletes

    Over 2.4 million children around the world will participate in youth baseball leagues each year, and at some point, many of those participants will pitch. Most leagues have a "pitch count" rule, so that each player is individually monitored. Jeff Baggett, certified athletic trainer and outreach program manager at Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, says that these rules are in place not necessarily to create fair play – but to protect the safety of our young athletes.

  • How physical therapy helps athletes and what to expect

    Article

    How physical therapy helps athletes and what to expect

    Physical therapy is medical care that is directed at improving pain, movement and the ability to perform daily tasks and recreational activities with fewer complications, restrictions or movement impairments. For anyone who has faced an injury, physical therapy can drastically improve quality of life and the ability to fully recover.

  • How to support your child during concussion recovery

    Article

    How to support your child during concussion recovery

    Recovery from a sports concussion does not happen overnight, and you must let your child to take the necessary time to heal. While a normal range for recovery is three to four weeks, that recovery time will vary by individual. Allowing your child to rest is one of the most important steps you can take as a parent after your child is diagnosed with a sports concussion.

  • Sports supplements for teen athletes

    Article

    Sports supplements for teen athletes

    The sports supplement industry is booming and promises to help athletes of all ages move faster and grow stronger. But the vitamin and supplement industry is mostly unregulated, leading to a wide variation in supplement quality across the market. This lack of regulation can put athletes and their health at risk – with little or no recognized benefits.

  • Preventing and caring for your child's hand injuries

    Article

    Preventing and caring for your child's hand injuries

    A recent study confirmed what many student athletes and their parents have learned the hard way: hand injuries and playing sports, especially field sports, can go hand-in-hand. Although some of the most common hand and wrist injuries heal quickly with rest and at-home treatment, other injuries are more serious and can take weeks to heal.

  • Tips for managing your child's asthma during exercise

    Article

    Tips for managing your child's asthma during exercise

    Whether playing sports or playing a game of tag outside, daily physical activity keeps children healthy and happy. For children with asthma, however, exercise can make breathing more difficult and possibly trigger an asthma attack.

  • How is biomechanics used to help athletes?

    Article

    How is biomechanics used to help athletes?

    A jump or a throw is not just one movement. Each action is the result of dozens of small movements that work together to facilitate an end goal. Using the biomechanics of sport and exercise, athletes can learn about their own movements and make the changes they need to improve performance and lower their risk of injury.

  • Prevention and treatment of overuse injuries in sports

    Article

    Prevention and treatment of overuse injuries in sports

    It may come as a surprise to many parents, but sports-related injuries are the second leading cause of emergency room visits in children and adolescents across the country. And Texas is no exception. Home to more than 7 million youth and an ever-increasing population of young athletes, Texas is a hotbed for sports injuries among children.

  • What age can you start lifting weights?

    Article

    What age can you start lifting weights?

    Around the time that participation in team sports begins, and especially during the middle and high school years, many young athletes start to wonder if they should start lifting weights.

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