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Challenge: Back to School

Watch Out For These Medical Problems In Your Student Athlete

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As school rolls around, sports and extracurricular activities are desired by your student. Every athlete knows that the human body is an incredible thing, but it also needs plenty of care to perform at peak levels. Student athletes who put their body under too much stress can run into a variety of health problems, and it is vital to deal with those problems as quickly as possible. Early treatment will minimize their impact and make sure that they can get back into their sports as soon as possible. That means that you should always keep an eye out for the early signs of a few common health issues.

Skin Conditions

Young athletes often find themselves in environments that are conducive to developing rashes and other skin conditions. Excessive sweat can aggravate the conditions, while physical contact and shared locker rooms can encourage them to spread between the athletes.

Fortunately, skin conditions tend to be fairly easy to see. Discoloration, sores, and unusual skin texture can all be signs of a problem. Athletes should seek treatment as soon as they appear to make sure that the condition does not spread. In some cases, such as hidradenitis suppurativa treatment, the method will vary depending on the intensity of the condition. Simple cleaning with warm water may be enough in mild cases, while others will need antibiotics. Always remember to follow the treatment instructions carefully to ensure good results!

Muscle Problems

Exercise leads to a strong and healthy body, but too much can actually cause problems. Muscles need time to recover and grow after exercise. People who don't give them that chance will develop overuse injuries. Training with proper form can do a lot to reduce the risk of having a problem, but even people with perfect form will run into problems if they push themselves too hard.

Pain and discomfort are the most common signs of an overuse injury. Redness and swelling are also common warning signs, and they can indicate a more pressing problem than just discomfort. Particularly serious cases will lead to difficulty using the overworked parts of the body.

It pays to watch athletes carefully for signs of trouble. Many of them, particularly young and ambitious athletes, will try to avoid mentioning their problems to avoid sounding weak. Many are also concerned about the risk of losing practice time while they recover. If your athlete looks like they might be having problems, be sure to ask them. Prevention is also vital, and you can avoid most problems by ensuring that they focus on different body parts in every workout session and use proper form when exercising.

One way to help prevent this problem is by planning all workouts in advance. People who improvise their workouts can easily fall into the trap of focusing on their favorites, or only on the muscles that they want to improve. That will quickly lead to overuse. Planning prevents that problem and makes sure that they do not forget any important muscle groups, so it can even improve the quality of the workout.

Nutrient Deficits

Nutrients are the fuel that allow the human body to function. Athletes make their body do a lot, so they need to be sure that they are getting the right balance of nutrients to stay healthy. Nutrient deficiencies can lead to a host of problems, and some athletes even develop hypergymnasia, which causes them to burn so many calories exercising that it becomes unhealthy.

You should make a point of keeping an eye on what your young athlete is eating. Sports nutrition is complicated, but at the most basic level you should be watching to make sure that they are staying hydrated, getting plenty of protein, and maintaining a healthy weight. Rapid weight loss and a general lack of energy are major warning signs that something is wrong. When in doubt, consult a nutritionist to construct a healthy meal plan that will meet the athlete's needs.

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