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Nutrition for Injury Recovery in Young Athletes

Nutrition for Injury Recovery in Young Athletes

by | Mar 19, 2024 | Sports Medicine

Nearly 60 million American children play sports, and many of them experience sports injuries. If your child gets injured, the path to healing starts in the kitchen. Proper nutrition for injury recovery may help your child spend less time on the sidelines. The key is knowing which foods to choose. 

Foods to Avoid After an Injury  

Sports injuries force athletic kids to do one of their least favorite activities: sit around. As they watch their teammates run back and forth, children may forget about habits that keep them on their game. Instead of healthy eating, they may want to fill up on unhealthy snacks and sweets. 

Don’t let your children fall into this trap. Encourage them to eat the same foods they rely on when playing sports to ensure the best nutrition for injury recovery. 

After a sports injury, your child should avoid the following: 

  • Inflammatory foods. White bread and pastries are refined carbohydrates, which have much of their nutritional value stripped away. They are also associated with inflammation, which slows the healing process. Similarly, saturated fats found in butter, full-fat dairy, fried foods, and red and processed meats can raise inflammation but don’t offer additional nutrition value.  

  • Sports drinks. Full of electrolytes, sports drinks help your child rehydrate when they sweat excessively during activity. While your child is resting and recovering from injury, however, sports drinks are just another sugary drink. Like refined carbs and fried foods, sugar is associated with inflammation. 

Proper Nutrition for Injury Recovery 

To help your injured athlete maintain muscle mass, feed them healthy, nutrient-dense foods, including: 

  • Complex carbohydrates. Along with providing energy for your body to heal, complex carbs are full of vitamins and minerals. Good sources of complex carbs include lentils, brown rice, quinoa, and whole wheat breads and pastas. Rotate these different options into evening dinners to add variation to your family meals.  

  • Fruits and vegetables. The vitamins and minerals found in fresh produce have many benefits. They heal wounds, aid in tissue growth and repair, and more. Fill your child’s plate with a variety of fruits and vegetables. Find various ways to prepare and present produce to keep things interesting. Dust vegetables with exotic spices like turmeric or crumble berries over Greek yogurt for a creamy afternoon treat.  

  • Healthy fats. Eating healthy fats gives your child an energy boost. Additionally, healthy fats can have anti-inflammatory properties. Add healthy fats to your child’s diet by offering flax or chia seeds, avocado, or fish. Make these options intriguing by mixing avocado into a spicy guacamole or blending chia seeds into a fruit smoothie. When cooking other foods, use olive or sunflower oil for even more healthy fat.  

  • Lean sources of protein. Protein intake protects against muscle loss. Foods rich in protein include lean meats, fish, low-fat dairy products, and nuts and seeds. Think turkey sandwiches, peanut butter toast and grilled chicken over colorful vegetables. The amount of protein your child needs varies, so talk with their provider to determine the right amounts during injury recovery.  

  • Water. Complete nutrition for injury recovery requires hydration to help joints heal. Encourage your child to drink lots of water. To add bright flavor to your child’s beverage, consider spritzing it with slices of lemon or other types of citrus fruit.  

Let your child help you as you prepare their meals and snacks. You may even consider using your child’s time off from athletics to plant a garden filled with fruits and vegetables they can enjoy throughout the year. Building healthy dishes together helps your athlete stay connected to their wellness as they recover. It is also a great opportunity to set and achieve goals as a family.    

A Word on Concussion Nutrition 

When young athletes experience a sport-related concussion, they also seem to benefit from proper nutrition for injury recovery. Research has shown that certain nutrients may benefit children after a concussion. They include:  

  • Protein 

  • Magnesium 

  • Omega-3 fatty acids 

  • Vitamin D 

Additional research is needed on the effects of nutrition on concussion recovery. These nutrients can be found in many healthy foods but talk with your child’s provider before giving your child any supplements after a concussion.  

Is your young athlete sidelined with a sports-related injury? Our expert team at Scottish Rite for Children is ready to get them back in the game. Call 469-515-7100 to learn about our sports rehabilitation services. 

Growing Pains: 5 Common Questions Answered

Growing Pains: 5 Common Questions Answered

by | Mar 17, 2024 | Uncategorized

If your child complains of pain in his or her legs at the end of the day, growing pains may be the cause. In most cases, these common pains are nothing to worry about. Still, understanding the possible causes and symptoms of leg pain can help you recognize when to seek medical advice. Here are answers to five common questions about growing pains to help your child get the right care. 

1. Are Growing Pains Real? 

Growing pains are a group of symptoms that commonly affect children ages 3 to 12. These symptoms are real, uncomfortable and may affect sleep. However, growing pains are not usually a reason for concern and do not cause long-term damage or issues. In some cases, though, symptoms may indicate a serious medical condition. 

2. What Are the Symptoms of Growing Pains? 

The most common symptom of growing pains is pain behind the knees, in the lower legs or in the thighs. Children feel this pain at night typically in both legs. Some children also experience abdominal pain or headaches along with leg pain. Symptoms tend to come and go over weeks or months and do not significantly affect activity. The pain usually does not occur every day and may go away for several days or weeks before returning.  

3. What Causes Growing Pains? 

Although growing pains are real, they aren’t related to growth or growth spurts. No one knows the actual root cause. However, doctors and researchers have identified several possible causes and risk factors, including: 

  • Anxiety, irritability or stress: Children with higher levels of these feelings may be more likely to experience growing pains. Having a parent with high anxiety or stress levels may also increase the risk. 

  • Decreased bone strength: Weakened bones may develop if your child does not get enough vitamin D, leading to growing pains.  

  • Foot issues: Children with feet that turn inward and have a low arch, also called flat feet, are more likely to get growing pains. 

  • Genetics: Growing pains tend to run in families. 

  • Hypermobile joints: Children who have loose joints or joints that can move past the normal range of motion have a higher risk of experiencing growing pains.  

  • Increased sensitivity to pain or outside stimulus: Some evidence suggests children who have growing pains are more sensitive to pain than others their age. Similarly, sensory processing issues may be related to growing pains. 

  • Overuse: Symptoms of growing pains are often worse after excessive physical activities. 

  • Vitamin D deficiency: Sometimes, growing pains

  • are associated with low vitamin D levels. 

Growing pains may not have a single cause. They usually develop for a combination of reasons. 

Although restless legs syndrome does not cause growing pains, symptoms of the conditions often overlap. Children with restless legs syndrome may also have a higher risk of growing pains.  

4. How Can You Help Relieve Your Child’s Symptoms? 

If your child has growing pains, there are many things you can do to reduce their pain, including: 

  • Gently stretching painful leg muscles 

  • Giving your child an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen 

  • Massaging the painful area 

  • Offering emotional support and letting your child know you are there for him or her 

  • Placing a heating pad or warm compress on the painful area 

  • If another underlying health condition causes growing pains, children often benefit from additional treatments, such as: 

  • A vitamin D supplement to address a deficiency 

  • Increased calcium intake to improve bone strength 

  • Mental health support to learn how to manage anxiety or stress 

  • Physical therapy for hypermobile joints 

  • Shoe orthoses for flat feet  

 5. When Should My Child Need See a Health Care Provider for Leg Pain? 

No matter the underlying cause, it’s always a good idea to talk with your child’s health care provider if he or she is experiencing new or worsening leg pain.  

Although these are not signs of growing pains, make an appointment with your child’s health care provider if he or she has one or more of the following symptoms: 

  • Leg pain accompanied by a fever, significant decrease in appetite or weight loss for no known reason 

  • Joint pain in the legs 

  • Muscle pain in the legs during exercise or in the morning 

  • Rash on one or both legs 

  • Unexplained bruising or swelling in one or both legs 

The provider can help determine the cause of growing pains, rule out other medical conditions, and suggest treatments or techniques to ease your child’s symptoms. 

​Call 214-559-8670 to schedule an appointment with a pediatric orthopedic specialist. 

Scottish Rite Is Advancing the Use of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Pediatric Orthopedics and Beyond

Scottish Rite Is Advancing the Use of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Pediatric Orthopedics and Beyond

by | Feb 12, 2024 | Research & Innovation

In many practices, musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK US) is housed solely in radiology. At Scottish Rite for Children, we are fortunate to also have two practitioners with advanced training and certification in using this tool in clinic. Sports medicine physician Jacob C. Jones, M.D., RMSK, and rheumatology practitioner Heather Benham, D.N.P., APRN, CPNP-PC, RHMSUS, use ultrasound to diagnose and treat patients for a variety of conditions.

Together, Jones and Benham have developed a comprehensive course to teach health care professionals the fundamentals of MSK US. Their extensive ultrasound backgrounds and genuine interest in teaching have come together to produce an impactful experience for the attendees.

More than 70 participants from professions including orthopedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, orthopedic and emergency medicine fellows, physical therapists, advanced practice providers and research personnel have completed the program. Traveling from more than 15 states and two countries, the attendees have all indicated they would be interested in returning for an advanced course and many have referred others to the program.

There are several elements that make this program one-of-a-kind.

  • All faculty have expertise in the use of MSK US in pediatrics.
  • Guest faculty are invited from institutions such as Boston Children’s Hospital, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Texas Children’s Hospital.
  • Pediatric models participate in the scanning sessions.
  • Injection sessions integrate a variety of tools including custom-made joint models.
  • Didactic and scanning sessions alternate throughout the day.

Jones and Benham look forward to developing an advanced course to offer in conjunction with the fundamentals course. Join our wait list to hear about it first!

Get to Know our Staff: Becky Ketch, Radiology

Get to Know our Staff: Becky Ketch, Radiology

by | Jan 22, 2024 | Spotlight

What is your job title/your role at Scottish Rite for Children? 
I am a registered nurse in the Radiology department.

What do you do on a daily basis or what sort of duties do you have at work?
My duties as a radiology nurse vary daily. Our Tuesday and Wednesday schedules are designated for MRIs that require general anesthesia. The radiology nurses prep the patient for anesthesia, assist the anesthesiologist with induction and then recover/discharge the patient. We also help with steroid injection procedures in a variety of modalities, provide sedation for non-anesthesia MRIs (for example, if a patient requires valium prior to the scan), and help with MRI and CT procedures that require contrast.

What was your first job? What path did you take to get here or what led you to Scottish Rite? How long have you worked here?
My first job was working as a lifeguard in high school for a few summers. I heard about Scottish Rite from a friend who had a family member that worked here. They encouraged me to sign up to be a junior volunteer when they learned I was interested in the medical field. After graduating from nursing school, I worked on a general pediatrics unit for my first nursing job. I returned to Scottish Rite, and I have been working here for the past three years.

What do you enjoy most about Scottish Rite?
I love the sense of community and that my co-workers feel like family! I appreciate the fact that I am encouraged to spend time with my patients while they are here and get to know them.

Tell us something about your job that others might not already know?
As a radiology nurse, I am not just involved in direct patient care. We also help schedule patients that require anesthesia for MRIs, review these patients’ charts and speak with the families. We set up the anesthesia machines for cases and assist in their daily maintenance. We are with our sedation patients from the very beginning to the very end of their appointment.

Where is the most interesting place you’ve been?
Western Australian! The plane ride was 100% worth it.

If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Thanksgiving dinner!

If you could go back in time, what year would you travel to?
Paris in the 1920s. This question made me automatically think of the movie “Midnight in Paris.”

What is your favorite thing about fall?
I love the overall feeling of fall. I enjoy spending more time outdoors when the weather is crisp. Although our “fall” is short in Texas, it is definitely my favorite time of the year.

What’s one fun fact about yourself?
Not only was I a junior volunteer at Scottish Rite for a few years, but I was also a nursing extern here while in nursing school. During any difficult days in nursing school, I would envision myself working here in the future. 

Recognizing Early Signs of Dyslexia in Preschoolers

Recognizing Early Signs of Dyslexia in Preschoolers

by | Jan 11, 2024 | Dyslexia & Learning Disorders

Dyslexia is the most common learning disorder in the United States, making up approximately 80% of all diagnosed learning disorders, according to the American Psychiatric Association. When not addressed, dyslexia can lead from simple issues in reading, writing and spelling to behavioral problems and anxiety. Knowing the early signs of dyslexia allows you to look for potential difficulties as early as preschool and find treatments that will help your child succeed.

Hallmarks of dyslexia include:

·       Difficulty identifying speech sounds 

·       Difficulty reading aloud

·       Problems with expressing oneself clearly or comprehending what others are saying

·       Trouble connecting sounds to written letters and words 

A family history of trouble learning to read, including dyslexia, can be an indicator of dyslexia, as well.

Spotting Early Signs of Dyslexia

There are many recognizable signs in young children that they may be at risk for a reading disorder. Noticing these signs during preschool or even earlier allows you to work with a specialist and develop a plan that sets your child up for success when he or she starts kindergarten or elementary school.

Signs of dyslexia in preschoolers can include:

·       Being a late talker 

·       Calling things by an incorrect name

·       Difficulty recognizing letters in their name or other familiar words

·       Difficulty remembering instructions with multiple steps

·       Having the vocabulary or speech patterns of a younger child, for example, mispronouncing words, knowing fewer words than developmentally appropriate or continuing to speak in baby talk

·       Inability to recognize rhyming patterns in words or trouble making up new rhymes on their own

·       Trouble learning or difficulty remembering the letters in the alphabet, days of the week or nursery rhymes

School-age children with dyslexia will experience trouble writing and spelling. They may also have difficulty learning to read. Blending sounds in words and sounding out new words may be hard for them. 

If someone identifies early signs of dyslexia in your child, find a specialist who can screen for the condition before kindergarten. These screenings generally take a few hours and involve a review of your child’s family history and factors including vocabulary, listening comprehension and ability to recognize letters. 

Early Interventions for Dyslexia

Preschoolers who receive early interventions for dyslexia often have better success when learning to read. These support services can include therapy services and special educational tools designed to help your child overcome dyslexia. Early intervention can lead to higher self-esteem and confidence and better performance in school overall. 

Some early interventions may include:

·       Blending sounds in words

·       Learning strategies that use sight, sound and touch 

·       Making the connection between words

·       One-on-one tutoring outside of school

·       Work focused on vocabulary, expressing oneself and comprehension

An education specialist can help you decide which interventions that will most help your child. Just like treating an illness or injury, results are better when specialists tailor them to a child’s individual needs.

When children receive these interventions, they often do so in a sequential manner, starting with basic concepts and working their way up to more complex ones. This level of one-on-one attention also lets specialists use all a child’s senses. Children with dyslexia often see the most success when learning strategies incorporate multiple senses, allowing them to become fully engaged with their work.

If you have concerns about your child’s difficulty learning, speaking with your pediatrician is a great place to start. He or she can guide you through the screening process and point you to the best interventions available to help foster your child’s abilities, 

Request an evaluation for your child at Scottish Rite for Children’s Luke Waites Center for Dyslexia and Learning Disorders.