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