Injury Prevention
Some children are just built tough and will try and push through any pain they feel while out on the field. Unfortunately, this minor problem can become more serious if it's not treated with early intervention.
Common Basketball Injuries
Sprains and strains: Sprains and strains are caused by minor tears or stretching. Note, this does not mean stretching as in warm ups, but when an area is suddenly stretched further than it is intended.
Wrestling Injuries
Shoulder injuries are one of the most common injuries in wrestling. Popular moves like head-levers, armbars and hammerlocks place immense pressure on the shoulder joint. It’s not uncommon for wrestlers to experience rotator cuff or ligament tears as a result.
Little League Guidelines for Youth Baseball Players
Many people are unaware of the fact that the majority of ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction—or Tommy John—surgeries are for teenage athletes. While little leaguers are not quite teenagers, now is the time to take preventative action, as it’s the prime time for future injuries to fester.
Overuse Injuries In Children, Adolescents, and Teens
Overuse injuries are those that occur gradually over time. When an athletic activity is repeated over and over again, affected areas of the body simply don’t have enough time to heal between all the repetitions endured between play and practice. Because young athletes are still growing, they are at a greater risk for injury than adults. The consequences of overdoing a sport can include injuries that impair growth, and may lead to long-term health problems. A great example is overhand pitching in baseball, which can be associated with injuries to the elbow.
Concussions and Youth Sports
If you suspect that an athlete has sustained a concussion, they need to be removed from play ASAP – no tournament, trophy, or title is worth the potential damage that could be caused by ignoring the symptoms of a concussion and allowing a child to continue to play.
Spring Activities
Biking – Are you an avid cyclist? If so, April/May is a great time to get that bike into the shop to make sure that it will be road ready as soon as you are. While you’re at the bike shop getting that tune up, why not ask to have the bicycle professionally fitted for you? Seriously – having a bike professionally fitted can improve both efficiency and comfort, making it easier (and more enjoyable) for you to log more hours cycling. And, finally, let’s not overlook safety – spring sales are a great time to purchase a new helmet or bright, reflective gear, or any other gear that you may need for your bike.
Concussion Repercussions – What not to do
Before we go any further, let’s start with the basics – what is a concussion? According to the CDC, a concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury that is caused by a blow to the head (or via a hit to the body) that causes the head and brain to move quickly back and forth. This type of fast movement can cause the brain to “bounce around” in the skull which, in turn, can create chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging the brain cells.
Winter Sports Injuries
Some of the most common winter sports injuries are sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures. In fact, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 290,000 individuals were treated for winter-related sports in 2014 – 114,000 injuries from snow skiing, 79,000 injuries from snowboarding, 47,000 injuries from ice skating, and 52,000 injuries from sledding. Many times these injuries occur at the end of the day when participants are tired and ready to call it quits but just can’t help themselves from getting in one more good run before the daylight fades.
Weekend Warrior Woes
The Achilles tendon is one of the biggest tendons in the body and it’s also one of the most frequently injured. The Achilles tendon is the tough band of connective tissue at the back of the ankle, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. Athletic endeavors are the number one cause of an Achilles tendon rupture, affecting men more often than women. There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments available, both of which are something that your orthopaedic surgeon or podiatrist would most certainly discuss with you.