Too often parents are shy to ask questions about their child in respects to their sport career.  When you are in the office things happen so fast your may forget to ask a nagging questions on your mind.  Here are some recommendations before going to the doctor with your child:

1. Come Prepared: The easiest thing to do is write down a list of questions and just read them off the paper.  It is easier to construct intelligent and purposeful questions at home than while listening to your child’s diagnosis. 

2. Get a Detailed Diagnosis – The world wide net is great for looking up information…if you know where to look.  Make sure you get the exact diagnosis for your child.  Write it down.  I cannot tell you how many times patients arrive in physical therapy and aren’t sure still what is going on.  There is a huge difference between “Rotator Cuff Tendonitis” and “Something is going on in my shoulder that hurts.”

3. Be Proactive and Involved – Ask what you can do?  What can your child do?  What can the coach do?  What can we do to prevent this from happening again?  This allows you the opportunity to properly instruct all parties involved with the correct information.