Sports

The participation of children (about 30 million each year) in athletic activities continues to grow. Involvement in sports is beneficial to children in many ways. It can improve physical fitness, coordination, self-discipline and teamwork in order to promote a sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment.

Unfortunately, children are more susceptible to sports-related injuries because they are still growing. Each year more than 775,000 children ages 14 and under are treated in hospital emergency departments for sports-related injuries.

The majority of these injuries are sprains, strains, bone/growth plate injuries, repetitive motion injuries, and heat-related illness.

Conditioning is an integral part of participation in athletics. A period of warm-up and conditioning as well as a cool-down period following exertion should be part of any sports activity.

Prior to participating in any organized sports activity, all athletes should undergo a complete sports physical. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all children and adolescents receive a yearly health maintenance exam.

Prevention

Caution your children and teens not to "play through pain" but to stop and rest when pain occurs. If pain persists or is severe, have your child's complaint or injury evaluated by your pediatrician or a pediatric sports medicine expert. Your child's physician is the best judge of his or her fitness to participate in further activities.

The following are some things to look for to make sure that your children's sports programs incorporate injury prevention:

• Proper physical and psychological conditioning.
• Use of appropriate safety equipment such as helmets, mouth guards, protective goggles, knee and elbow pads.
• A safe playing environment.
• Adequate and knowledgeable adult supervision.
• Enforcement of safety rules.
• Matching and grouping of children according to similar skill level, weight, and physical maturity.

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