Released on = June 19, 2006, 11:42 pm

Press Release Author = Ken Kaiserman

Industry = Internet & Online

Press Release Summary = As people involved in youth sports we need to be aware of
safety and injury risks associated with the children we watch. Kids specializing in
single sports or playing in multiple leagues have exacerbated the risk of repetitive
motion "overuse" injuries.

Press Release Body = Those of us with kids involved in youth sports know how
consuming it can be for our families. Weekends are dominated by games and weekdays
by practices. The ties that bond us together are often tightened during these
activities, but do our kids do too much too soon? When many of us were kids, there
were not nearly as many organized activities; now that we have martial arts,
religious studies, team and individual sports, family time and, of course, homework.
Is there a right time to start to play or not to play? Like many parenting
decisions, including those for youth sports, there are no black and white answers.
Of the many variables to consider, this month we'll focus on the potential injury
risks.

What is the likelihood of Injury?

A common concern is that younger kids may be more susceptible to severe injuries
before they have fully developed. Is there a greater risk of arm damage for kids who
start pitching at age of 7 instead of waiting until they are 9? Should kids avoid
tackle football until the reach a certain age? Does specialization in an individual
sport increase the risk of injury for that child due to overuse and make them more
susceptible to continuous motion injuries?

Injuries are certainly a concern for all of us and the risk of injury is considered
a growing problem by many experts. According to the "Kids' Health" supplement in the
October 18-20, 2002 weekend edition of USA Today, there are over 3.5 million sports
related injuries that require treatment reported each year for kids under 15 years
old. Many of these injuries are from playground equipment, bike riding and other
activities, but organized youth sports certainly contribute to the total.
Fortunately, there are very few deaths, but the information suggests that 40% of all
sports related injuries occur in children under 14 years old and more than half of
those injuries take place in practices instead of games. In 2002, from information
accumulated from the "Connecticut Safe Kids Sports/Recreation Activity Injury Fact
Sheet".

While this data is certainly misleading and flawed because it doesn't break down the
number of participants in each sport, the frequency of the activity or the severity
of the injury, it does demonstrate that injuries are something we should pay
attention to.


Types of Injuries

In the newsletter published by the Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital, pediatrician
Deiter Lindskog, MD exclaims that the largest increase in youth sports injuries are
due to repetitive use. He states "Recent studies estimate that 30 to 50 percent of
pediatric sports injuries are caused by overuse, with the frequency of injury equal
among boys and girls." Because they're still not fully developed, kids are more
susceptible to repetitive use problems like stress fractures, caused by use without
enough recovery time, growth plate injuries, due to excess strain, and soft tissue
damage to muscles, tendons or ligaments.
This would lead to the question of "how much is too much? The research on this isn't
clear at all. With increased specialization where kids participate in only one sport
year round, start playing at a younger age and participate in multiple leagues at
once, what is clear is that many are crossing that unknown line. In baseball, a
study created in 1996 and updated in 2004 by USA Baseball Medical & Safety Advisory
Committee Position Statement on Youth Baseball Injuries developed a standard for
rest based on pitch counts:

While there is a tremendous amount of flexibility in these recommendations, the main
issue is that care should be taken to watch for signs of trouble. There is no
evidence to suggest a higher injury rate for Pony League Baseball, which often
starts kids pitching at age 7, when compared to Little League Baseball, which often
starts kids pitching at age 9.

Studies done with Pop Warner Football players also show that there is a risk of
injury, but surprisingly, younger players are less likely to be injured than older
players. Supported by studies done by the Institute of Sports Medicine and Athletic
Trauma in New York which completed a study in 71 towns covering 5,000 players, the
Pop Warner Website (www.popwarner.com) states that because of the weight
restrictions "injuries in youth football are normally mild and older players have a
higher injury rate than younger players."


Conclusion

As people involved in youth sports we need to be aware of safety and injury risks
associated with the children we watch. Kids specializing in single sports or playing
in multiple leagues have exacerbated the risk of repetitive motion "overuse"
injuries. We need to be especially aware for these young athletes and be cognizant
of the warning signs. Some things to watch for include pain, changes in gait or
other observable behavior, changes in performance and psychological effects. Kids
should not be encouraged to play through any real injury because they don't want to
let down their parents or teammates even though they may feel like they can do it.

We want to help prevent injuries through proper training and conditioning. An effort
can be made to have children compete at levels commensurate with their skill so that
they don't overdo it. Furthermore, efforts must be made to teach proper fundamentals
for all aspects of the game since mechanical errors are more likely to lead to flaws
that can cause injury. Because practice makes permanent, it is crucial to work on
these fundamentals even at an early age. As youth sports enthusiasts, we all have an
obligation to take care of the kids.


Web Site = http://www.sportskids.com

Contact Details = SportsKids.com
12500 Emerson Avenue
Parkersburg, WV 26104
Toll Free: (888) 543-2173
Parkersburg Area: (304) 464-4632