November 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Help kids manage expectations and goals
Mentally preparing for the big game
The days leading up to a big game can cause stress. Kids might worry about making mistakes or losing in front of their peers. Fortunately, this pressure can be transformed into an opportunity to help kids build mental stamina. In this article, experts at Children’s Hospital Colorado show how caregivers can support children in becoming more resilient when they feel this stress.
Find out how such mental preparation can help kids foster confidence, manage expectations, and more HERE.
October 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Benefits of chocolate milk for athletes.
10 Ways Chocolate Milk Supports Nutrition
After a sporting event, kids need nutritious food and drinks that replenish their energy stores. Chocolate
milk is a great recovery drink because it boasts multiple nutritional benefits, including fluid and
electrolytes, protein for muscle repair, vitamins, carbohydrates and many more. Chocolate milk also
helps bone growth and contains important amino acids that speed up recovery.
To learn more about the benefits of chocolate milk and how it can help young athletes,
read more from our expert partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado. HERE
September 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
What are Germs and How Can We Prevent Them from Spreading?
Germs are an unavoidable part of life, but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing we can do to prevent them from making kids sick. Children’s Hospital Colorado experts share everything you need to know about what germs are and how to keep them from spreading.
Learn all about germs HERE
How do you properly stretch an injured muscle?
An Athletic Trainer’s Do’s and Don’ts
Stretching can help young athletes heal their newly injured muscle, helping them get back in the game
sooner. However, stretching too much, or at the wrong time, can cause further damage to the injury. In
this article from Children’s Hospital Colorado’s Sports Medicine Center, athletic trainer Dennis Coonan
offers tips for when and how to start stretching a recent strain, and which types of stretches are best for
healing. Read the article to learn more about post-injury muscle care.
Learn more about post-injury #muscle care HERE
July 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Can athletes drink too much water?
Warning signs of hyper hydration
Hydration is essential for young athletes to feel and perform their best, but too much fluid can
put kids at risk of hyper hydration. Since athletes are sweating out essential electrolytes,
hydrating too much without replacing them can disrupt the body’s salt content. Hyper
hydration can result in nausea, confusion and other serious symptoms, so it’s important to
know the signs and risk factors.
June 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Is your athlete getting enough sleep?
Why sleep matters in sports
You already know that sleep plays an important role in a young athlete’s energy levels. But did
you know that insufficient rest can also limit reaction time, reduce cognitive function and even increase the risk of injury?
In this article, our partners at Children’s Hospital Colorado explain how sleep impacts athletic performance.
You’ll also learn key strategies for improving your child’s sleep, plus tips for travel, technology and more.
See why sleep matters by using the link from Children's Hospital Colorado: HERE
How to fuel up for a tournament. Nutrition tips for long game days
MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIONS FROM
THE SIDELINE TO THE CLINIC AND
BACK TO SPORT
Eating the right food before a big tournament can make all the difference in how you feel and
perform. For young athletes, it’s especially important to strike the right balance of snacking,
hydration, and nutrition. See the best foods and drinks to eat before, during, and after a
tournament, so your kids can feel great on and off the field.
Learn more about tournament nutrition HERE
March 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content - Proper Nutrition for Young Athletes
Healthy lunch tips for athletes
Expert tips for refueling
Young athletes need proper nutrition in order to perform, grow and develop. But what exactly does a nutritious meal entail?
Learn from a sports nutrition expert at Children’s Hospital Colorado about the elements of a high-performance lunch, plus meal example plates based on activity level.
Get Children's Hospital Colorado's athlete lunch tips HERE
Sports Physical Therapy Education Series
MANAGEMENT OF CONCUSSIONS FROM
THE SIDELINE TO THE CLINIC AND
BACK TO SPORT
Hosted Virtually From Childrens Hospital Colorado
Register HERE
February 2023 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
What’s the deal with dry needling?
Muscle therapy for young athletes
Everyone’s muscles contain trigger points, which can cause discomfort, pain and tension when left untreated. Dry needling is a form of physical therapy that targets these trigger points in order to release chemical buildup, increase blood flow and promote healing. In this article from our partners at Children’s Colorado, learn more about dry needling and how it can support student-athletes with both performance and recovery.
Learn more about dry needling HERE
How to Advocate for Your Child
Whether it’s at the hospital or in school, parents must sometimes speak up for their children. Advocating for your child ensures that their needs are met and protects their physical, mental and emotional health. In this article, you’ll find expert advice from Children’s Hospital Colorado on how to advocate for your children in different settings — plus how to teach them self-advocacy.
Advocate for your child HERE
January 2023 Sports Medicine Monthly Content
Family exercise tips for feeling great together
Between school, work, and screen time, finding time for exercise can be a challenge. However, staying active is essential for mental and physical wellness at every age. Fortunately, there are many ways you can help the whole family get moving — all while boosting overall health. Whether setting SMART goals or getting more sleep, here’s what to know about having fun and staying active as a family.
Learn Family Exercise Tips From Children's Hospital HERE
November 2022 Sports Medicine Center Monthly Content
Are Supplements Safe?
A parent’s guide to supplements.
For young athletes today, it’s becoming increasingly tempting to take the latest
supplement or vitamin on the market. But with so many options out there promising a variety
of outcomes, it’s hard to know which, if any, are safe and effective. Our expert answers your
top questions on supplements and vitamins for athletes
Read more HERE
September 2022 Sports Medicine Monthly Content
Vitamin D and Calcium Facts for Young Athletes
Vitamin D and calcium work together to ensure your young athlete has strong bones capable of resisting painful injuries. That’s why it’s important to ensure your kid has good sources of both of these key nutrients in their diet. Our guide to vitamin D and calcium deficiency will help you understand who is at risk, how you can find out whether your kid is lacking these nutrients, and more.
Read Children's Hospital Q&A HERE
Back to School by Children's Hospital of Colorado
The start of a new school year can be a challenging time for kids and families. But with a little preparation, the right attitude, and these tips from our partner Children’s Hospital Colorado, shifting from summer to school doesn’t have to be overly stressful.
Click HERE for full checklist
August 2022 Sports Medicine Monthly Content
Answering your concussion questions
For all athletes, concussions are an ever-present concern. But for young athletes, there’s a lot to consider, including the fact that their brains are different from adult brains and are still developing. With this in mind, we take a comprehensive, thoughtful, and research-based approach to concussion evaluation and treatment. But what can you do to prevent a concussion? And what else do you need to keep in mind related to concussions?
Read Children's Hospital concussion FAQ's HERE
What your kid should drink for optimal hydration
Which is better for your kid: water or sports drinks?
In the hot summer months, hydration is especially important for young athletes who are busy practicing, playing and training.
With multiple options on the market for getting adequate fluids, it’s hard to know whether your kid should reach for a hydrating sports drink or plain old water. And there’s a time and place for both. Our experts help you decide when to choose one over the other.
See Children's Hospital comparisons HERE
Highly Requested Topics by Children's Hospital of Colorado
COVID-19 and Mental Health: https://youtu.be/k-VenU33Id8
Dealing with Defiance: https://youtu.be/3gQkPmpuDtM
Body Image/Eating Disorders: https://youtu.be/6qLHVGlZ8Sg
Sports Nutrition 101: https://youtu.be/DG62RReOV9Y
Energy Drinks: Learn Why Kids Should Never Consume Them
Although they are heavily marketed toward young people, experts say that kids should never consume energy drinks. Unlike sports drinks, they are not regulated by the FDA and may contain harmful amounts of caffeine, sugar and other simulates. Read our guide and learn the important differences between energy drinks and sports drinks.
Read Children's Hospital advice HERE
Is your young athlete getting enough sleep?
Young athletes need a good night’s rest in order to stay healthy and balance their academic and athletic workloads. In fact, 80% of teens get the nine to 10 hours of sleep every night that they need. Our guide will tell you how sleep impacts performance and offer tips for improving sleep habits.
Get Children's Hospital tips and strategies HERE
How to Protect your Unvaccinated Kid: Activities, Childcare, Sports and More
Parents of children under 5 are still anxiously awaiting vaccine approval for their kids. And with many states opening up for more activity and lifting mask mandates, it’s growing even more difficult for parents to determine the best strategies to keep their kids safe. We’re here to help you figure out social activities, childcare, travel, sports and mental health for your unvaccinated child.
Read Children's Hospital advice HERE
How to Help Children After Traumatic Events
Between unrest in Ukraine, the recent Marshall Fire, and the continued impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the news is full of traumatic events that can be especially difficult for kids to process and understand. No matter how much you want to protect your kid from some of these dark events, they’ll undoubtedly have thoughts and feelings to work through. Our guide can help you get the conversation started with children of any age.
CTA: Read Children's Hospital's advice HERE
Game Day Mental Preparation
Some kids might be pumped. Others might have anxiety. To get the most from each player, parents and coaches need to know their personalities — but there are a few things they can do to help any kid feel prepared and show up strong on the court or field.
Expert Exercise Tips for Kids
Even short bouts of exercise can improve your kid’s sleep, stress, mood and concentration, and can help treat and prevent some medical problems. Whether your family only has a few extra minutes to spare, or you want to make physical activity a larger part of your kid’s life, we’ve compiled some helpful workout tips to kickstart your family’s journey.
Get Children Hospital Colorado tips HERE
Post-Concussive Syndrome: The Big Picture Behind the Symptoms
Concussions can happen to kids of any age, regardless of whether they’re playing sports or wearing a helmet. The resulting symptoms can cause physical, emotional and cognitive distress
—but they can also be treated if you know where to look.
See The Big Picture Behind the Symptoms with Children's Hospital
The Difference Between COVID-19, Cold, Flu, and Other Bugs Affecting Kids
Body: Flu and common cold symptoms can be similar to COVID-19 in kids, but there are some important differences to keep in mind so you know for sure. Use our symptom chart as a quick and easy resource to help you stay safe.
Learn the differences with Children's Hospital
Post-Concussive Syndrome: The Big Picture Behind the Symptoms
Concussions can happen to kids of any age, regardless of whether they’re playing sports or wearing a helmet. The resulting symptoms can cause physical, emotional and cognitive distress
—but they can also be treated if you know where to look.
See The Big Picture Behind the Symptoms with Children's Hospital
The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
Research shows that children who get even 20 minutes of moderate physical activity in their day have increased attention, comprehension and learning ability. They feel better, too. At the same time, budget and curriculum cuts have led to less physical education in schools than ever. Here’s how to make sure kids are getting the exercise they need to feel their best.
(Hint: It doesn’t have to be difficult!)
Get moving with Children's Hospital!
Easing Back-to-School Stress
From new faces to new spaces to bullying, peer pressure and the ever-changing rules and norms of the COVID-19 pandemic, getting back to school can be a challenging time for kids and parents alike. Luckily, there are ways to set up a smooth transition.
Back to School with COVID-19, Part 2
With school coming back around and the pandemic still not over, two issues weigh heavily on parents’ minds: How will the school year play out, and what’s best for my child and family?
Parenting is hard, especially now, and every family’s situation is different. That’s why we rounded up our experts to address frequently asked questions from real parents – all focused on keeping precious little minds and bodies healthy.
Get Answers HERE
10 Benefits of Chocolate Milk & How it Helps Young Athletes
Recovery is the window of time when an athlete needs to replenish their energy after a hard workout or activity. For high school athletes, the low-fat chocolate milk in the school cafeteria can help.
Learn how HERE
Outdoor Adventures with Kids
High-Altitude Fun, By Age
Pediatric sports medicine doc Aaron Provance, MD, loves the outdoors. He's a seasoned mountaineer, hiker, mountain biker, rock climber, and more, and he's a big advocate for getting kids out into nature. As a father of triplets, he's also realistic about what that involves.
Get Dr. Provance’s guide HERE
A Healthy and Balanced Vegetarian Diet
Some professional athletes practice a meatless or dairy-free diet, and your young athlete may express interest too. This is a great opportunity to discuss the importance of nutrition with your child and do research together on what it takes to manage a vegetarian diet.
Learn the basics HERE
Exercises with an Athletic Trainer
Children's Hospital has begun creating a playlist on their Youtube channel of a variety of exercises for athletes to utilize to reduce injuries
Here is the link: Exercises with an Athletic Trainer - YouTube
Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) Sports Medicine Center and Littleton Soccer/Colorado United Club recently partnered to promote health and wellness within the club. Children’s Colorado will provide a certified athletic trainer to the club for home games at Cornerstone Park during the league season, at hosted tournaments and at the Littleton Soccer Club office one day per week for visits.
Children’s Colorado will also provide educational content for members in all newsletters, over social media properties and during parent educational nights. This content will help members to stay informed and on top of the latest trends and treatments.
About Children’s Hospital Colorado
Children’s Hospital Colorado is a leading pediatric network 100 percent dedicated to the health and well-being of children, adolescents and young adults. Consistently acknowledged as one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Colorado is recognized nationally and internationally for its medical, research, education and advocacy programs. It is at the forefront of research in childhood disease and pioneering treatments that are shaping the future of pediatrics, as well as offering everyday care for kids throughout Colorado and surrounding states. Founded in 1908, Children’s Colorado offers a full spectrum of family-centered care at its urgent, emergency and specialty care locations throughout Metro Denver and Southern Colorado, including its location on the Anschutz Medical Campus. Scheduled to open in early 2019, the new Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs will be the first pediatric-only hospital in southern Colorado. For more information, visit www.childrenscolorado.org, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.
Children’s Hospital Colorado complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
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