For Immediate Release
For more information contact:Joanne L. Swanson(847) 384-4035 [email protected]
A. J. Wright(847) 384-4034 [email protected]
Todd Schuetz(847) 384-4032 [email protected]
Academy's sports survey (www.aaos.org) runs through September 4
ROSEMONT, Ill.--The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons wants to know whether or not you and your family have sustained a sports injury. If you respond to the survey (www.aaos.org), you will be rewarded with tips, guidelines and exercises to reduce your injury risk.
The Academy is conducting a survey about safety gear usage, sports participation and injury prevalence to determine which sports and recreational activities have the most injuries.
To participate in the online survey, which runs through September 4, log onto www.aaos.org, select "Take The Consumer Survey," and then press "Sports Survey."
Those who complete the survey are given a link to a list of Academy sports tips, fact sheets, brochures and exercises, which can be downloaded, free of charge. Results of the sports survey will be released October 17 at the Academy's Orthopaedics Update meeting in New York City.
The survey provides a choice of 18 sports and recreational activities ranging from football and cheerleading; to playgrounds, inline skating and all terrain vehicles; the survey also asks participants what three sports are played most often by members of their immediate family.
The Academy is interested in how many injuries have occurred and to what body part, i.e. knee, shoulder, hip, back, wrist, etc. The survey asks individuals if they or members of their family have sustained a fracture, torn ligament, etc., as a result of playing sports and where the injury took place (i.e., inside the home; outdoors at a park; at a health club).
The survey includes questions on the type of injury and resulting behavioral change. For example, following a sports injury, do people stop playing the sport altogether-even after they have recovered? Do they now wear safety gear?
The Academy wants to know if people think that wearing safety gear interferes with their ability to participate in sports and recreational activities. The information will be used to help determine what additional injury prevention guidelines need to be developed.
Each year, more than 2.6 million people in the U.S. are treated at hospital emergency rooms for injuries related to sports, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC study estimates the cost for these injuries at $500 million.
Many injuries can be prevented. The sports survey is part of the Academy's Prevent Injuries America!(r); campaign on injury prevention.
An orthopaedic surgeon is a medical doctor with extensive training in the diagnosis and nonsurgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.
The 25,500-member Academy is a not-for-profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade, the global initiative in the years 2000-2010 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health, stimulate research and improve people's quality of life.
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