Inspire, Summer 2012

Stay Fit While Pregnant by Amanda (Cole) Tress ’08 There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about exercising during pregnancy. Many women assume that exercising while pregnant is dangerous, but when done correctly and under a doctor’s supervision, continued workouts have many health benefits. I have been an athlete and personal trainer for eight years. When I learned I was pregnant with my daughter, I was committed to remain fit and healthy throughout my pregnancy. With my doctor’s support, I maintained my pre-pregnancy level of fitness throughout my entire pregnancy and experienced a fast and smooth labor, delivery, and recovery. I exercised up until the day I delivered my daughter, and, with my doctor’s blessing, I was walking within two days of delivery and running just two weeks after that. Low impact activities like walking, jogging, swimming, and biking are ideal during pregnancy and will help keep you healthy and prepared for an easier labor and delivery. Don’t use fatigue, nausea, back pain, or constipation as excuses — exercising properly and safely will help alleviate these and other common discomforts. • Listen to the child’s body cues about when he or she should stop training. • Participate in multiple sports at different times throughout the year to limit the risk of overuse. If joint or muscle pain lasts more than a week and/or impedes normal activity, consult a medical doctor (i.e., the child’s primary care provider, a sports medicine specialist, or an orthopaedist). Avoid continued play until the injury has been appropriately evaluated. It is important for the player, parent, and coach to understand that continuing to play through prolonged pain can lead to greater problems in the end. When a teen athlete loses interest in a once-loved sport, parents should take this seriously. Ask the athlete about the source of his or her discontent and seek appropriate counseling when needed. All that may be needed is a period of prolonged rest from the sport. Above all, make sure your child is having fun. Additional Resources stopsportsinjuries.org The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons developed the STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) program in 2010 safekids.org Safe Kids USA is a nationwide network of organizations working to prevent unintentional childhood injury sportsmed.org/inmotion In Motion is an electronic newsletter of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Dr. Dominic McKinley ’92 is a primary care sports medicine physician with Guilford Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Center in Greensboro, North Carolina. He specializes in treatment and prevention of sports- related injuries and illnesses, and he is the team physician for North Carolina A&T State University. He played basketball for the Yellow Jackets men’s basketball team from 1988–1992 and is a member of the Cedarville University Athletic Hall of Fame and Athletes of Honor. Dominic also serves on the University’s board of trustees. You may contact him at dommck@triad.rr.com . “When a teen athlete loses interest in a once-loved sport, parents should take this seriously. ... Above all, make sure your child is having fun.” 22 SUMMER 2012