MONDAY NIGHT INJURY CLINIC

The Sports Injury Clinic holds a regular Monday night injury clinic. Between 6pm and 8pm clients can receive injury management from the weekend’s activities at a reduced rate, phone 9783 9990 anytime on Monday to secure your time.

Our Physiotherapist will assess, treat and direct a rehabilitation program for your players’ immediately as well as an active management plan to avoid spending more time than is necessary the on sidelines. On the day of assessment our physiotherapist will contact and report to the injured players coach or manager by phone or email to report findings and outcomes. You will also have immediate access to Sports Medicine Doctors for assessment and investigations if required. A Monday night injury clinic session is fully covered by your private health fund with no gap to you, or in the event you don’t have private health insurance the cost is $20.

Preventing Skateboarding Injuries

Facts on skateboarding injuries

Skateboarding is a popular recreational and fitness activity among children, adolescents and young adults. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey, Children’s participation in cultural and leisure activities conducted in April 2003, reported that 604,500 Australian children aged 5-14 years participated in skateboarding or in-line skating outside of school hours in the two weeks prior to the survey.

How many injuries?

• Victorian hospital admissions and emergency department data shows that there were at least 3,020 presentations for skateboarding injury over the threeyear period July 2001-June 2004.
• Males accounted for over 75% of skateboarders treated in Victorian hospitals.
• A high proportion (65%) of injured skateboarders were 10-17 year olds.

The causes and types of injuries

• The major cause of skateboarding injuries was falls (90%).
• Both beginners and also experienced skateboarders trying new tricks are most at risk of injury.
• Over half of skateboarding injuries were to the upper extremity (55%, including wrist/forearm fractures, wrist sprains and hand/finger fractures), followed by the lower extremity (25%, including knee and lower leg fractures and ankle sprains) and 11% were to the head, face and neck.
• Wrist injuries are common with falling skateboarders typically putting out their hands in an attempt to break a fall, landing on an outstretched arm onto a hard surface. Ankle sprains are also a common skateboarding injury.

Safety tips for skateboarders

Good preparation is important

• Warm up and cool down before and after skateboarding sessions.
• Make sure your skateboard is suited to your size and the type of skating you want to do. Check and maintain your board regularly, especially the condition of the wheels. Give it a safety check before each skateboarding session.

Good technique and practices will help prevent injury

• Beginners should take lessons from a qualified coach/instructor to develop balance, good technique and bailing skills. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises that children under the age of five should never ride a skateboard and that children aged 6-10 years need supervision when skateboarding.
• Learn how to fall. If you lose your balance crouch down on the skateboard so you do not have to fall so far. If you fall, try to land on your shoulder and roll rather than putting your arm and hand out to break the fall. Kick the board out from under your feet.
• Advanced skaters wanting to learn new tricks would also benefit from lessons/coaching sessions.

Wear the right protective equipment

• Always wear protective equipment such as a helmet, wrist guards, kneepads, elbow pads and closed slip-resistant shoes. Protective equipment can absorb the impact of a fall and reduce the number and severity of injuries.
• Protective equipment should fit comfortably but firmly so it does not slide out of position.
• Choose a hybrid skateboarding helmet that also meets the Australian Standard for bicycle helmets.
• Wear bright or reflective clothing if skateboarding in the evening or on overcast days. Do not skateboard at night.

Check skate environment for hazards

• Skate in skateparks wherever possible and keep off roads or streets.
• Obey the local laws on where you can and cannot skate.
• Before skateboarding check the riding surface or ground for holes and bumps and clear the area of stones, broken glass and other debris. Report any hazards in skateparks to the local council or the manager of the park.
• When starting a skating session in a skatepark, check the ramps, rails and other pieces of equipment to make sure they are safe and secure.
• Watch for a while to check how other participants (skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX riders) are using the equipment and slot in only when it is safe to do so. Observe the skater code of conduct.
• Local government and communities should continue to develop local skateparks that conform to skate facility safe design and maintenance guidelines.

Other safety tips

• Skateboard within your limits.
• Complicated tricks require careful practice in a specially designed area. Build up to complicated tricks in stages. Always wear full protective equipment when trying new tricks.
• Drink before you get thirsty. Drink water regularly when skateboarding in hot weather. Take breaks in the shade.
• Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Re-apply regularly.
• Always let someone know where you are going, and how long you will be gone for.
• Children under the age of 10 should be supervised by an adult at all times.

This article was provided by SmartPlay, to see the original document with references click here.

A PRO-ACTIVE 2007 FOR YOUR CLUB

The Sports Injury Clinic gives you tips and offers services that can help your club be pro-active in preparation on the training track and ultimately lead to improved performance on the field.

Ground conditions affected by the drought are just one of the challenges we face during 2007 in getting your players up to peak condition.

However, with The Sports Injury Clinic’s AFL approved programs and player management systems, we can implement effective strategies for your club in a structured and pro-active way, 7 days a week.

Some of the concerns coaches consistently raise with us include injury reoccurrence, non structured training nights and rehabilitation programs.

The Sports Injury Clinic can address all these issues positively, working within your current club infrastructure.

What can we do for your club?

Assistance 24 hours a day

Your club will have access to an on-call physiotherapist who will give immediate assistance for players, coaches and trainers 24 hours a day. Just call 1800 351 421 for on-the-spot advice.

Exercise Physiology

The Sports Injury Clinic’s qualified Exercise Physiologists can come to your club and conduct specialist training sessions. They can also assist with structuring your training year based on prior knowledge of football injury and best outcomes. Exercise physiology sessions are also available on-line for your club during training and specialist injury sessions. (i.e. Hamstrings, groins, quads, knee/ankle injury.)

Injury Updates

You will receive 20 Injury Updates per year which will give you facts and information regarding certain injuries for use by coaches and players.