What are the chances your child will get hurt playing sports?
Before signing their kids up for youth sports, parents review options, schedules and costs. They purchase clothing, equipment and sports drinks. They commit to driving their child to practices and games and cheer them on from the sidelines. Some learn the rules of the game. Some encourage their child’s team; others question the coach or referees’ decisions loudly.
But how many parents think about the possibility of injury? How many youth coaches learn about injuries? How many youth teams (or parents through health insurance) have access to an athletic trainer who can help with injury prevention as well as treatment and rehabilitation?
According to Nationwide Children’s hospital, “Approximately three million youth are seen in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries and another five million youth are seen by their primary care physician or a sports medicine clinic for injuries. These numbers leave out the injuries not seen by a physician.”
The chances your child will get hurt are extremely high.
Most of us know that our child might sprain an ankle or break an arm, but today’s child athletes are experiencing a higher rate of severe injuries and occasionally, death. Overuse injuries can lead to chronic pain that prevents them from playing as a they get older and sets them up for lifelong health issues. And while collegiate coaches are seeing more highly skilled players than ever before, they get to that level with a body that is often wearing out.
Why I care
The worst sports injury I ever experienced was a sprained ankle, but my father tore his Achilles tendon shooting a jump shot, my brother broke his neck playing football and my daughter tore her ACL playing basketball. All recovered, with surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation.
Until my daughter got hurt, I did not know that girls are at 5-8 times higher risk of tearing their ACL. I did not know that there are exercises and drills to reduce the risk of ACL tears. And when I conducted interviews for my master’s degree thesis, I learned that most coaches did not know these things either.
That is why I provide information monthly to raise awareness and provide resources about youth sports injuries. Parents and coaches need to know more about the risks of asking too much of kids’ bodies.
This overview from Dr. Anikar Chhabra, M.D., Director of Sports Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona will introduce you to acute and chronic sports injuries and prevention.
Read more
Nationwide Children’s - Kid's Sports Injuries: The Numbers are Impressive
ESPN – ‘These kids are ticking time bombs': The threat of youth basketball
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.