Are the young athletes in your life playing safe?
As a renowned sports orthopedic surgeon, Dr. James Andrews has operated on Michael Jordan, Drew Brees, and Bo Jackson. But he started his presentation earlier this month for high school athletic trainers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, by talking about a more important patient: his grandson.
He showed a video of the middle school boy struggling to walk after playing seven basketball games on two consecutive days. He was diagnosed with Sever’s Disease in which the Achilles tendon pulls on the growth plate in the heel bone.
Over the last two decades, Dr. Andrews has seen the number of surgeries on young athletes increase dramatically. Over 3.5 million kids are injured playing sports each year, and he would like to see fewer of them end up on the operating table.
Dr. Andrews was instrumental in the creation of STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries, by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) in early 2007. But despite the knowledge that over 50% of youth sports injuries can be prevented, the numbers are not going down.
Dr. Andrews shared some observations about youth sports injuries:
Overuse injuries have increased 10-fold in young athletes since 2000.
The number of younger athletes having ACL and Tommy John surgeries continues to soar.
Improper technique, ill-fitting equipment, training errors and coach/parental pressure contribute to youth sports injuries.
There should be pitch counts for youth baseball and softball.
The notion that softball’s underhand motion is natural and limits injuries is a myth.
Minimum time for a youth/teen athlete to return to play after an ACL surgery is nine months. The chance of an injury to the same knee or the other knee rises significantly with earlier return to play.
Source: The Advocate
Dr. Andrews also recommends that athletes 14 and under should take a two-month break from organized leagues or intense training (3 or 4 months would be better). During that time, they may work on strength, flexibility, and conditioning.
Learn about the risks of kids’ sports
Kids don’t just get hurt playing high-profile sports; every activity can put young bodies at risk. As kids head back into the classroom and begin new sports seasons, it’s a good time for parents and coaches to also do some homework.
The National Council of Youth Sports has created tip sheets for 30 sports and activities that include information about the signs, treatment, and prevention of youth sports injuries.
Check them out and keep the young athletes in your life playing. Safely.
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Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopeadic Center
No kidding around: Renowned surgeon James Andrews stresses seriousness of youth sports injuries, Robin Fambrough, Staff Writer, The Advocate, Baton Rouge, LA
STOP Sports Injuries, National Council of Youth Sports website
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Statements are based on personal experience, credible news articles, and medical resources. My intention is to raise awareness. Please learn more and discuss questions and concerns with your family's physician or an athletic trainer.
Photo by Jafar Ahmed on Unsplash