Football practices. Volleyball matches. Cross-country meets. Soccer games. For Keller families, fall can mean a calendar packed with practices, competition, and trips between school and the field.
Then your athlete starts mentioning a sore knee, an aching shoulder, or back pain after practice.
They want to keep playing. You want to support them. But you also want to know: Is this something we should have checked?
The answer starts with listening to the symptoms and noticing how they affect movement—not simply whether your child can finish a game.
Pay attention to changes in how your athlete moves
An athlete may say, “I’m fine,” while limping between plays or avoiding a movement that hurts.
Watch for patterns such as:
- Pain that repeatedly returns during practice.
- Swelling or tenderness that does not settle.
- A change in running, throwing, jumping, or landing technique.
- Difficulty keeping up with activities that were previously comfortable.
Overuse injuries can develop gradually without one obvious collision or fall. Growing athletes can also develop injuries involving growth plates, so recurring pain should not automatically be dismissed as “growing pains.” Pause the aggravating activity and arrange an evaluation when symptoms persist or keep returning. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Look at the whole week—not just the last practice
When discussing symptoms, bring the athlete’s full schedule into the conversation.
That might include school practices, club-team sessions, private coaching, weight training, and weekend games. A calendar can help everyone see how much activity is happening and where recovery fits.
Useful questions to bring to an appointment include:
- When did the discomfort start?
- Was there a specific injury, or did it develop gradually?
- What activity brings it on?
- Does it affect walking, school, sleep, or everyday tasks?
- What changed recently in the athlete’s schedule?
These details help guide an examination. They do not establish a diagnosis on their own.
Some injuries need prompt medical attention
After an injury, severe pain, an obvious deformity, inability to bear weight, or new numbness or weakness calls for prompt medical assessment. Do not send an athlete back into play to see whether they can “work it out.” AAOS guide to young-athlete safety
Head injuries require particular care. If a concussion is suspected after a hit to the head or body, remove the athlete from play immediately. They should not return that day and need evaluation and clearance from an appropriate healthcare provider. CDC concussion guidance
Call 911 or seek emergency care for concussion danger signs such as seizures, repeated vomiting, worsening headache, increasing confusion, or difficulty waking. CDC signs and symptoms
A routine chiropractic appointment should never delay emergency care.
What a useful sports-injury evaluation should accomplish
At Firm Foundation Wellness Center, the first step is understanding what happened, what the athlete is feeling, and what their sport requires.
Dr. Corey Strunk’s background in Exercise and Sports Science, personal training, and chiropractic informs a movement-focused approach. An examination may assess relevant joint motion, strength, movement, and neurological findings, depending on the concern.
The purpose is to determine what needs attention and whether care in our office is appropriate. Sometimes imaging, a sports-medicine evaluation, or another referral should come first.
When appropriate, a care plan may include rehabilitation exercises, activity adjustments, and hands-on care selected for the athlete’s findings and tolerance. Every athlete does not need the same treatment.
Returning to play should follow a plan
Wanting to play and being ready to play are different questions.
After an injury, returning should follow the treating clinician’s guidance and any applicable school or team requirements. Rehabilitation and a gradual return help assess whether the athlete can handle the demands of the sport. Feeling better during ordinary daily activities does not automatically mean an athlete is ready for full competition. AAOS guide to young-athlete safety
Ask what progress should look like, what activities are appropriate now, and what symptoms mean the plan needs reassessment.
Helping Keller athletes take the next step
Your athlete should feel comfortable speaking up about pain without worrying that they are disappointing someone.
If recurring back, neck, shoulder, or other movement-related pain is affecting participation, Firm Foundation Wellness Center can help evaluate the concern and discuss appropriate next steps.
We serve Keller and nearby communities from our office in Old Town Keller, with time for questions and individualized care.
Learn about our approach to sports injuries, call or text (817) 776-1023, or schedule an appointment.