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When Recovery Has to Take Priority

By Jon Buzby, USA Football, 02/18/19, 12:00PM PST

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As parents, we may not have medical degrees, but in some instances, it only takes our common sense to help our children recovery quickly.

Sports injuries are a part of life regardless of the age of your child or the level of sport in which they compete. During the younger years, seeking advice from team athletic trainers isn’t usually an option. Fortunately, it’s often obvious whether or not a doctor’s visit is necessary. When it’s not, even though most parents don’t have medical or athletic training degrees, how they respond can alter the recovery process by using “parenting common sense.”

My 12-year-old son has been battling a sprained ankle for the past few weeks. It hasn’t bothered him enough to miss games, but we have had to make a few decisions about skipping practice. Fortunately, his coaches have supported how we’ve managed his nagging injury.