More American children are
competing in sports than ever before. Sports help children and adolescents keep
their bodies fit and feel good about themselves. However, there are some
important injury prevention tips that can help parents promote a safe, optimal
sports experience for their child. Please feel free to use them in any print or
broadcast story, with appropriate attribution of source. Click here for the Spanish Version.
sports have a risk of injury. In general, the more contact in a sport, the
greater the risk of a traumatic injury. However, most injuries in young
athletes are due to overuse.
injuries occur to ligaments (connect bones together), tendons (connect muscles
to bones) and muscles. Stress fractures can also occur from overuse. However,
the areas where bones grow in children are at more risk of injury during the
rapid phases of growth. In a growing child, point tenderness over a bone should
be evaluated further by a medical provider even if there is minimal swelling or
limitation in motion.
frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments) strains (injuries
to muscles), and stress fractures (injury to bone) caused when an abnormal
stress is placed on tendons, joints, bones and muscle. Contact your
pediatrician if you have additional questions or concerns.
reduce the risk of injury:
- Time off. Plan to have at least 1 day off per
week from a particular sport to allow the body to recover.
- Wear the right gear. Players should wear appropriate and
properly fit protective equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow,
chest, knee, shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups,
and/or eyewear. Young athletes should not assume that protective gear will
protect them from performing more dangerous or risky activities.
- Strengthen muscles. Conditioning exercises
during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
- Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises before
and after games or practice can increase flexibility. Stretching should
also be incorporated into a daily fitness plan.
- Use the proper
technique. This should be reinforced during the playing season.
- Take breaks. Rest periods during
practice and games can reduce injuries and prevent heat illness.
- Play safe. Strict rules against
headfirst sliding (baseball and softball), spearing (football), and body
checking (ice hockey) should be enforced.
- Stop the activity if there is pain.
- Avoid heat injury by drinking plenty of
fluids before, during and after exercise or play; decrease or stop
practices or competitions during high heat/humidity periods; wear light
pressure to win can cause significant emotional stress for a child. Sadly, many
coaches and parents consider winning the most important aspect of sports. Young
athletes should be judged on effort, sportsmanship and hard work. They should
be rewarded for trying hard and for improving their skills rather than punished or criticized for losing a game or
competition. The main goal should be to have fun and learn lifelong physical
Copyright © 2014 American
Academy of Pediatrics