| Those of us with kids involved in youth sports know | | | | frequency of injury equal among boys and girls." |
| how consuming it can be for our families. Weekends | | | | Because they're still not fully developed, kids are more |
| are dominated by games and weekdays by practices. | | | | susceptible to repetitive use problems like stress |
| The ties that bond us together are often tightened | | | | fractures, caused by use without enough recovery |
| during these activities, but do our kids do too much too | | | | time, growth plate injuries, due to excess strain, and |
| soon? When many of us were kids, there were not | | | | soft tissue damage to muscles, tendons or ligaments. |
| nearly as many organized activities; now that we have | | | | This would lead to the question of "how much is too |
| martial arts, religious studies, team and individual sports, | | | | much? The research on this isn't clear at all. With |
| family time and, of course, homework. Is there a right | | | | increased specialization where kids participate in only |
| time to start to play or not to play? Like many | | | | one sport year round, start playing at a younger age |
| parenting decisions, including those for youth sports, | | | | and participate in multiple leagues at once, what is clear |
| there are no black and white answers. Of the many | | | | is that many are crossing that unknown line. |
| variables to consider, this month we'll focus on the | | | | While there is a tremendous amount of flexibility in |
| potential injury risks. | | | | these recommendations, the main issue is that care |
| What is the likelihood of Injury? | | | | should be taken to watch for signs of trouble. There is |
| A common concern is that younger kids may be | | | | no evidence to suggest a higher injury rate for Pony |
| more susceptible to severe injuries before they have | | | | League Baseball, which often starts kids pitching at |
| fully developed. Is there a greater risk of arm damage | | | | age 7, when compared to Little League Baseball, |
| for kids who start pitching at age of 7 instead of | | | | which often starts kids pitching at age 9. |
| waiting until they are 9? Should kids avoid tackle | | | | Studies done with Pop Warner Football players also |
| football until the reach a certain age? Does | | | | show that there is a risk of injury, but surprisingly, |
| specialization in an individual sport increase the risk of | | | | younger players are less likely to be injured than older |
| injury for that child due to overuse and make them | | | | players. Supported by studies done by the Institute of |
| more susceptible to continuous motion injuries? | | | | Sports Medicine and Athletic Trauma in New York |
| Injuries are certainly a concern for all of us and the | | | | which completed a study in 71 towns covering 5,000 |
| risk of injury is considered a growing problem by many | | | | players, the Pop Warner Website ( states that |
| experts. According to the "Kids' Health" supplement in | | | | because of the weight restrictions "injuries in youth |
| the October 18-20, 2002 weekend edition of USA | | | | football are normally mild and older players have a |
| Today, there are over 3.5 million sports related injuries | | | | higher injury rate than younger players." |
| that require treatment reported each year for kids | | | | Conclusion |
| under 15 years old. Many of these injuries are from | | | | As people involved in youth sports we need to be |
| playground equipment, bike riding and other activities, | | | | aware of safety and injury risks associated with the |
| but organized youth sports certainly contribute to the | | | | children we watch. Kids specializing in single sports or |
| total. Fortunately, there are very few deaths, but the | | | | playing in multiple leagues have exacerbated the risk |
| information suggests that 40% of all sports related | | | | of repetitive motion "overuse" injuries. We need to be |
| injuries occur in children under 14 years old and more | | | | especially aware for these young athletes and be |
| than half of those injuries take place in practices | | | | cognizant of the warning signs. Some things to watch |
| instead of games. In 2002, from information | | | | for include pain, changes in gait or other observable |
| accumulated from the "Connecticut Safe Kids Sports | | | | behavior, changes in performance and psychological |
| Recreation Activity Injury Fact Sheet". | | | | effects. Kids should not be encouraged to play through |
| While this data is certainly misleading and flawed | | | | any real injury because they don't want to let down |
| because it doesn't break down the number of | | | | their parents or teammates even though they may |
| participants in each sport, the frequency of the activity | | | | feel like they can do it. |
| or the severity of the injury, it does demonstrate that | | | | We want to help prevent injuries through proper |
| injuries are something we should pay attention to. | | | | training and conditioning. An effort can be made to |
| Types of Injuries | | | | have children compete at levels commensurate with |
| In the newsletter published by the Yale-New Haven | | | | their skill so that they don't overdo it. Furthermore, |
| Children's Hospital, pediatrician Deiter Lindskog, MD | | | | efforts must be made to teach proper fundamentals |
| exclaims that the largest increase in youth sports | | | | for all aspects of the game since mechanical errors |
| injuries are due to repetitive use. He states "Recent | | | | are more likely to lead to flaws that can cause injury. |
| studies estimate that 30 to 50 percent of pediatric | | | | Because practice makes permanent, it is crucial to |
| sports injuries are caused by overuse, with the | | | | work on these fundamentals even at an early age. |