Baseball, football, basketball, soccer - if you are a parent of a child older than 4 years, you have probably had an encounter with one or all of these sports. Football season is in full swing this time of year - from a friendly backyard game to flag or full-on tackle. I have never been a huge fan of football - pro, college, or otherwise - and my son shares my opinion on the sport too. Recently, he quite confidently told me that "football is boring" and he was just going to "swim until he beats Michael Phelps' records". I admire that goal but part of me feels as if he is missing a fundamental slice of boyhood with his disinterest in "ball" sports. Of course, the other part of me is relieved as his risk of injury is miniscule with swimming compared to the other sports. Maybe I would feel differently if football was his passion. I wonder about other moms, sitting on the sidelines, watching their beloved children being tackled to the ground with bone-breaking force. How do they do it? Are their hearts in their throats the whole game? How do they restrain themselves from running on the field to protect their son from the chaotic roughness of tackle football. Well, my friend has a son who is quite an athlete - he lives and breathes ball sports year round. The family has spent countless hours at practices and games. Last week, my friend's son was injured during a football game. He was grabbed around the collar and thrown to the ground by another 9 year old. Despite all of the proper protective equipment, he suffered an elbow fracture and a bruised liver. His injuries were significant enough to warrant avoidance of all sports, including gym class, until the Spring. Time will tell if surgery is needed to repair the fracture in his arm. His liver is resilient and will mend without intervention. Until then, he will support his team from the bench while his mother is thinking of creative ways to camouflage the bubble wrap under his clothing. Not the place any parent wants their child to be, but it will be the reality at some point in most young athletes' careers.
Injuries occur everyday in the sports world. According to Safe Kids USA, over 3.5 million children ages 14 and under receive medical care for sports injuries each year. Fortunately, fatal injuries from sports activities are uncommon. Baseball has the highest rate of fatal injuries with 3 to 4 children killed each year, most likely from a traumatic brain injury. Contact sports carry higher rates of non-fatal injury. One study from Safe Kids USA found that 28% of football players (ages 5 to 14 years) have been injured playing the sport. In 2002, 187,000+ young football players were treated in hospital emergency rooms for their injuries. Countless others were treated in physician offices and clinics that go unreported. This same report indicated that 62% of sports injuries occur during organized practices rather than games, and that about one-third of parents do not utilize the same level of safety precautions for practices as they do for games. Why is this and how do we change it to make our young athletes safer?
First, we need to raise awareness and parents need to understand that children are not just little adults. They are more at risk for injury because they are less coordinated, less accurate, have slower reaction times and possess a poor judgment of danger and risk. Sports injury risk is related more to the child's developmental stage than age or weight. Girls are more likely to be injured at younger ages, but by puberty, boys are more frequently injured and usually with more severity. Developing tendons and ligaments are most commonly injured, and bony injury is less likely. However, caution must be taken because injury to the growth plate of immature bones can be serious.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these sports injury prevention tips:
Injuries occur everyday in the sports world. According to Safe Kids USA, over 3.5 million children ages 14 and under receive medical care for sports injuries each year. Fortunately, fatal injuries from sports activities are uncommon. Baseball has the highest rate of fatal injuries with 3 to 4 children killed each year, most likely from a traumatic brain injury. Contact sports carry higher rates of non-fatal injury. One study from Safe Kids USA found that 28% of football players (ages 5 to 14 years) have been injured playing the sport. In 2002, 187,000+ young football players were treated in hospital emergency rooms for their injuries. Countless others were treated in physician offices and clinics that go unreported. This same report indicated that 62% of sports injuries occur during organized practices rather than games, and that about one-third of parents do not utilize the same level of safety precautions for practices as they do for games. Why is this and how do we change it to make our young athletes safer?
First, we need to raise awareness and parents need to understand that children are not just little adults. They are more at risk for injury because they are less coordinated, less accurate, have slower reaction times and possess a poor judgment of danger and risk. Sports injury risk is related more to the child's developmental stage than age or weight. Girls are more likely to be injured at younger ages, but by puberty, boys are more frequently injured and usually with more severity. Developing tendons and ligaments are most commonly injured, and bony injury is less likely. However, caution must be taken because injury to the growth plate of immature bones can be serious.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends these sports injury prevention tips:
- 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 before games and during practice strengthens muscles used in play.
- Increase flexibility. Stretching exercises before and after games or practice can increase flexibility.
- 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 clothing
Please visit www.aap.org or www.usa.safekids.org for additional information.
It's true that sometimes our minds can be more powerful and stronger than our bodies so it is only right to take care of our bodies so we can do what we think we can. Thanks for sharing. Good luck on everything. By the way, these free gift cards might interest you too. Have a blessed day!
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