Is there anything you can do to take action on this problem?
To prevent lacrosse injuries we have to be able to spot injuries and make sure they don’t get worse and become serious. We also have to teach people ways to not get minor injuries that can turn into major ones. Parents and coach have to learn how to treat it. Players also have to tell a coach about an injury so the proper action can be taken. To keep lacrosse safe and fun, all players, coaches, and parents have to know the dangers of lacrosse and there are injuries, and that they have to be cared for properly.
What are the consequences of the issue?
As kids and teens turn into adults, untreated
injuries might cause problems. For example an untreated slash to the knees might cause joint and tendon problems. Also You can get muscle problems from unhealed sprains. Also if some injuries are un -treated they can damage growth plates Sometimes on the field concussions and fractures may result.
What are the causes of the issue?
Since modern lacrosse is still a young sport, there are many parents, coaches and players, don’t know how to deal with lacrosse related injuries. They don’t know when they happen and how to treat them. Since they don’t know how to treat some of these minor injuries they develop into serious ones that damage growth plates and can seriously affect a child growth.
How often do these injuries happen?
Fractures and torn ligaments do not happen that much. But concussions, sprains, strains to the ligaments, knees, heels and legs are very common, also knee injuries are very common. At first theses minor injuries seem like not a big deal. If these minor injuries are not treated properly, these minor injuries can become major injuries like growth plate issues. Growth plates are very important to a child's growth, so when there is a injury to the area it has to be treated very seriously,
How do you treat these injuries?
For most minor injuries you can treat them with the RICE concept (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) If these minor injuries aren’t treated well they can develop into worse injuries. To deal with a concussion the person should go to the hospital and refrain from performing physical activity until a doctor says it's ok. With injuries to the ankles, especially inversion or rolling the person should wear a brace or cast and try not to play too much. If this isn’t treated properly, the growth plate in the ankle could be damaged. If growth plates are damaged it may disrupt growing. If parents and coaches know how to treat these injuries, Lacrosse will be a lot safer and more fun. So those minor injuries won't become major ones. Also players will know how to prevent minor injuries and the signs of it.
Sources: http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/lacrosse-injury-prevention.aspx
http://orthopedics.childrenscolorado.org/sports-medicine--injuries/sports-injuries-we-treat/lacrosse
