Preventing Sports Related Injury in Young Children – Dance, Baseball, Football and More

As parents of young children, one of the most difficult moments is to watch your child get injured.  To see your child suffer in pain or rehab can be unbearable.  According to the American orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) many common sports injuries are preventable AND a large portion of the responsibility falls to parents.

AOSSM began a campaign to educate Parents, Coaches and others.  The campaign is called Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention (STOP.)  “The comprehensive public outreach program focuses on the importance of sports safety-specifically relating to overuse and trauma injuries. The initiative not only raises awareness and provides education on injury reduction, but also highlights how playing safe and smart can enhance and extend a child’s athletic career, improve teamwork, reduce obesity rates and create a lifelong love of exercise and healthy activity. Our message underscores the problems of overuse and trauma and emphasizes the expertise of our coalition of experts.”

Parent’s let’s test your knowledge!

1. What age children’s feet and ankles gain enough strength to begin pointe training in ballet? 
2. What are the maximum pitches per baseball game for your child? How many rest days they should take?  What age they are developed enough to learn to throw a fastball?
3. What common football injury can effect a child’s long term involvement in sport?

 Parent’s can find the answers to these and many other questions in the PDF documents here:  http://stopsportsinjuries.org/SportsInjuryPrevention.aspx  

In order to encourage healthy behavior and a lifetime of sport, take some time to educate yourself now.  Empowered with proper sports information parents can be an advocate for their child in school physical activity program, during intramural sports and with their coaches over the years.  Each child develops differently.  This blog is not intended to provide medical advice.  Please consult your child’s physician for answers specific to the development of your child.

 Answers –

1.)    According to STOP age 12 is the generally accepted lower limit to begin pointe training in Ballet.

2.)    According to STOP, 50 pitches is the maximum per game for a 7-8 year old.

3.)    According to STOP knee injuries are the most common in football.  Injuries to the ACL/PCL and menisci can effect a child’s long term involvement in sport.

Check out Hometown Health TV for additional sports injury related information and a video on safe footwear: http://hometownhealthtv.com/main/index.php/childrens-foot-health. 

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