Parents Can Help Kids Avoid Sports Injuries

Nearly six million high school students play team sports, while another 20 million children take part in sports outside of school, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta.

That's great news for fitness, but playing a sport also can result in a variety of injuries. More than 775,000 children under age 15 are treated in hospital emergency rooms each year for sports-related injuries.

"When choosing a sport, I'd encourage parents to educate themselves and weigh the risks carefully," said Jason P. Greenberg, M.D., assistant professor of neurology at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. "Talk to the coaches and trainers and be involved in what goes on in the field." For example, it's helpful to know that with regard to concussions, soccer is 10 times safer than football, and volleyball is 10 times safer than soccer.

"If the child doesn't have a particular sport in mind, I'd recommend choosing a safer sport. If the child is interested in a contact sport -- like football or hockey -- then I'd encourage parents to help their child take precautions to avoid injury," said Greenberg.

"The bottom line is that there are risks associated with playing sports; however, if you weigh the risks, educate yourself and stay involved, it can be a positive experience for you and your child. Overall, participating in sporting events can provide tremendous benefit physically and socially to a child."

from BestHealth February 2001