Newswise — Many children return to school sports, such as soccer, football, cross-country and volleyball in late-July or early-August. Jon Divine, M.D., director of Sports Medicine at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, says it's most important for children to be in shape even before showing up for the first day of practice or tryouts to reduce the risk of injury. Because of their smaller size, younger athletes have a smaller surface area available for evaporative cooling and are less efficient at cooling body temperature then adults.
Acclimating to hot weather workouts ten days to two weeks before official practice begins can prevent heat injuries. Children should also drink plenty of fluids, take frequent breaks, wear light clothing and limit their exposure to the sun in the hot part of the day.
Dr. Divine also says safety equipment can reduce children's chances of being one of the 4.4 million between the ages of five to 18 who are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year. He recommends the following gear for youth sports:
"¢ Mouth guards cost as little as $1 each, but protect the mouth, teeth, cheeks and tongue. They cushion blows that cause lost or broken teeth, concussions or jaw fractures. There are several different types, differing in cost, fit and comfort. Whatever the type you choose, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends them for all contact and collision sports.
"¢ Face guards and face protectors (polycarbonate lenses) prevent tens of thousands of injuries each year in football, hockey and other contact or collisions sports. Many leagues/teams require a physician's note to allow wearing a facemask lens.
"¢ Shin guards are worn by soccer players to prevent shin contusions. Parents need to make sure shin guards fit well. Rapidly growing young athletes may need to have their shin guards replaced annually. Also, parents should watch for signs of skin irritation on the lower legs: up to 5% of young athletes will have a skin allergy to one or more materials in shin guards.
Helmets are another form of safety equipment that should be worn in sports like football, baseball or softball to prevent severe injuries like concussions. A concussion, or mild to moderate brain injury, is caused by a blow or jolt to the head. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common brain injury in sports is a concussion. In fact, approximately 300,000 sports-related concussions occur in the United States each year. Some concussions are unavoidable according to Dr. Divine, who also directs the concussion clinic at Cincinnati Children's.
"If a young athlete comes off the field after a blow to the head in any sport feeling dizzy, faint or have a lapse in memory, it's vital that they tell their coach or a team trainer. Equally as important, coaches, trainers and parents need to be observant of head injury symptoms because athletes may not report them," said Dr. Divine. "But of utmost importance, athletes younger than 18 yrs. who have any post-blow-to-the-head symptoms affecting their thought process should not return to the same practice, game or contest and be evaluated by a physician prior to return to play."
Following these important safety guidelines and reviewing them every year with your children will prevent injury in every sport during the school year.
About Cincinnati Children's
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is one of 10 children's hospitals in the United States to make the Honor Roll in U.S. News and World Reports 2009-10 Americas Best Children's Hospitals issue. It is #1 ranked for digestive disorders and is also highly ranked for its expertise in respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care, neurosurgery, diabetes, orthopedics, kidney disorders and urology. One of the three largest children's hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children's is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.
President Barack Obama in June 2009 cited Cincinnati Children's as an island of excellence in health care. For its achievements in transforming health care, Cincinnati Children's is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.
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