Written by Kuder Alseneid, Physiotherapist
Injuries are a normal part of sport, especially as young athletes grow, train more, and become more competitive. Whether it is a rolled ankle, a sore shoulder, knee pain, or something more significant, parents often find themselves unsure about what to do next.
The key is finding the right balance between not panicking and not ignoring something that may need attention.
Don’t Ignore Persistent Pain
Children will naturally experience occasional aches and soreness from training, particularly during growth spurts or periods of increased activity.
However, pain that keeps returning, causes limping, swelling, reduced movement, or stops your child from playing normally should be taken seriously.
One of the biggest things to look out for is whether the pain is changing how they move. If your child is avoiding putting weight through one leg, protecting an arm, or noticeably changing their technique, it is usually a sign that continuing to push through is not the best option.
Children can also be very motivated to keep playing, especially during matches or important training sessions, so they may not always tell you how uncomfortable they really are.
Reduce the Aggravating Activity
When an injury first happens, it is usually sensible to reduce or temporarily stop the activity that is causing the symptoms.
That does not always mean complete rest.
For many injuries, young athletes can still remain active in other ways while the irritated area settles. For example, a tennis player may need to reduce time on court but still be able to complete appropriate strength, mobility, or conditioning work.
The aim is to avoid repeatedly irritating the injury while still maintaining as much safe activity as possible.
Complete rest for long periods can sometimes make the return to sport harder, as strength and confidence can reduce while the athlete is away from training.
Get the Injury Assessed
If symptoms are significant, getting worse, or simply not improving, it is worth getting the injury assessed by a physiotherapist or another appropriate healthcare professional.
An assessment can help establish what may be causing the pain and, more importantly, what your child can safely continue doing.
This can include checking movement, strength, balance, and how the child performs movements specific to their sport.
Parents often understandably want to know exactly how long an injury will take to recover. In reality, this can vary considerably depending on the injury, the child, their training level, and how their symptoms respond.
A good rehabilitation plan should therefore be based on progress rather than simply waiting a set number of days.
Don’t Rush the Return to Sport
One of the most common mistakes after an injury is returning to full training as soon as the pain starts to settle.
Feeling better does not always mean the body is fully ready for the demands of sport.
Before returning to full training or competition, your child should ideally have good movement, strength, confidence, and the ability to complete relevant sporting movements without a significant increase in symptoms.
For tennis players, this might include running, changing direction, jumping, serving, and repeated hitting.
A gradual return is usually much better than immediately returning to a full training session or match.
This might mean beginning with a shorter session, lower intensity, or fewer training days before gradually building back towards their normal routine.
Monitor How They Respond Afterwards
It is also important to look at how your child responds after activity, not just during it.
Some injuries may feel fine while they are warmed up but become irritated later that evening or the following morning.
Ask them how they feel after training and how the injured area feels the next day.
If their pain, stiffness, or swelling has noticeably increased, it may suggest that the previous session was too much.
This does not always mean the injury has become worse. It may simply mean that the level of activity needs adjusting.
Rehabilitation often involves finding the right amount of load that challenges the body without repeatedly causing a flare-up.
Keep Communication Open
Communication between the child, parent, coach, and healthcare professional can make a big difference during rehabilitation.
If a physiotherapist has recommended a reduced training session or temporary limitations, the coach should ideally know about them.
Coaches can also provide valuable information about how the child is moving and performing during sessions.
Most importantly, children should feel comfortable saying when something hurts without feeling that they are disappointing their coach or parents.
The aim should never be to get them back as quickly as possible.
The aim is to get them back safely, confidently, and ready to tolerate the demands of their sport again.
Final Thoughts
Most young athletes recover very well from injuries when they are managed appropriately.
Parents do not need to diagnose every injury themselves. The most important things are recognising when something is not settling, reducing activities that are clearly aggravating the problem, and seeking professional advice when needed.
A gradual and well-managed return to sport is almost always better than either rushing them back or keeping them completely inactive for too long.
With the right approach, injuries can also be a useful opportunity for young athletes to improve their strength, movement, and understanding of their own body.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my child see a physiotherapist after a sports injury?
If symptoms are significant, getting worse or not improving, it is worth having the injury assessed by a physiotherapist or another appropriate healthcare professional.
Should my child stop all sport after an injury?
Not necessarily. Many young athletes can remain active while reducing the activity that aggravates the injury.
How do I know if my child is ready to return to sport?
A child should ideally regain movement, strength, confidence and be able to perform sport-specific movements without a significant increase in symptoms.
Should children play through pain?
Persistent pain, swelling, limping or changes in movement should not be ignored.
Can returning too early increase the risk of injury?
Returning to full training before the body is ready can increase the chance of symptoms returning.
What Parents Should Do When Their Child Gets Injured
Written by Kuder Alseneid, Physiotherapist
Injuries are a normal part of sport, especially as young athletes grow, train more, and become more competitive. Whether it is a rolled ankle, a sore shoulder, knee pain, or something more significant, parents often find themselves unsure about what to do next.
The key is finding the right balance between not panicking and not ignoring something that may need attention.
Don’t Ignore Persistent Pain
Children will naturally experience occasional aches and soreness from training, particularly during growth spurts or periods of increased activity.
However, pain that keeps returning, causes limping, swelling, reduced movement, or stops your child from playing normally should be taken seriously.
One of the biggest things to look out for is whether the pain is changing how they move. If your child is avoiding putting weight through one leg, protecting an arm, or noticeably changing their technique, it is usually a sign that continuing to push through is not the best option.
Children can also be very motivated to keep playing, especially during matches or important training sessions, so they may not always tell you how uncomfortable they really are.
Reduce the Aggravating Activity
When an injury first happens, it is usually sensible to reduce or temporarily stop the activity that is causing the symptoms.
That does not always mean complete rest.
For many injuries, young athletes can still remain active in other ways while the irritated area settles. For example, a tennis player may need to reduce time on court but still be able to complete appropriate strength, mobility, or conditioning work.
The aim is to avoid repeatedly irritating the injury while still maintaining as much safe activity as possible.
Complete rest for long periods can sometimes make the return to sport harder, as strength and confidence can reduce while the athlete is away from training.
Get the Injury Assessed
If symptoms are significant, getting worse, or simply not improving, it is worth getting the injury assessed by a physiotherapist or another appropriate healthcare professional.
An assessment can help establish what may be causing the pain and, more importantly, what your child can safely continue doing.
This can include checking movement, strength, balance, and how the child performs movements specific to their sport.
Parents often understandably want to know exactly how long an injury will take to recover. In reality, this can vary considerably depending on the injury, the child, their training level, and how their symptoms respond.
A good rehabilitation plan should therefore be based on progress rather than simply waiting a set number of days.
Don’t Rush the Return to Sport
One of the most common mistakes after an injury is returning to full training as soon as the pain starts to settle.
Feeling better does not always mean the body is fully ready for the demands of sport.
Before returning to full training or competition, your child should ideally have good movement, strength, confidence, and the ability to complete relevant sporting movements without a significant increase in symptoms.
For tennis players, this might include running, changing direction, jumping, serving, and repeated hitting.
A gradual return is usually much better than immediately returning to a full training session or match.
This might mean beginning with a shorter session, lower intensity, or fewer training days before gradually building back towards their normal routine.
Monitor How They Respond Afterwards
It is also important to look at how your child responds after activity, not just during it.
Some injuries may feel fine while they are warmed up but become irritated later that evening or the following morning.
Ask them how they feel after training and how the injured area feels the next day.
If their pain, stiffness, or swelling has noticeably increased, it may suggest that the previous session was too much.
This does not always mean the injury has become worse. It may simply mean that the level of activity needs adjusting.
Rehabilitation often involves finding the right amount of load that challenges the body without repeatedly causing a flare-up.
Keep Communication Open
Communication between the child, parent, coach, and healthcare professional can make a big difference during rehabilitation.
If a physiotherapist has recommended a reduced training session or temporary limitations, the coach should ideally know about them.
Coaches can also provide valuable information about how the child is moving and performing during sessions.
Most importantly, children should feel comfortable saying when something hurts without feeling that they are disappointing their coach or parents.
The aim should never be to get them back as quickly as possible.
The aim is to get them back safely, confidently, and ready to tolerate the demands of their sport again.
Final Thoughts
Most young athletes recover very well from injuries when they are managed appropriately.
Parents do not need to diagnose every injury themselves. The most important things are recognising when something is not settling, reducing activities that are clearly aggravating the problem, and seeking professional advice when needed.
A gradual and well-managed return to sport is almost always better than either rushing them back or keeping them completely inactive for too long.
With the right approach, injuries can also be a useful opportunity for young athletes to improve their strength, movement, and understanding of their own body.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should my child see a physiotherapist after a sports injury?
If symptoms are significant, getting worse or not improving, it is worth having the injury assessed by a physiotherapist or another appropriate healthcare professional.
Should my child stop all sport after an injury?
Not necessarily. Many young athletes can remain active while reducing the activity that aggravates the injury.
How do I know if my child is ready to return to sport?
A child should ideally regain movement, strength, confidence and be able to perform sport-specific movements without a significant increase in symptoms.
Should children play through pain?
Persistent pain, swelling, limping or changes in movement should not be ignored.
Can returning too early increase the risk of injury?
Returning to full training before the body is ready can increase the chance of symptoms returning.