|
|
Kid's Health (Archive) Our award-winning Kid's Health Magazine is designed to provide healthful information for your growing child. Please Note: Kid's Health Magazine is no longer being printed. Please visit our blog at http://www.choc.org/blog for the latest articles about your child's health from the experts at CHOC Children's. You can also receive our electronic Kid's Health newsletter in your inbox by subscribing to our mailing list: http://www.choc.org/subscribe |
Focus on Sports Safety this Fall
For many children, fall means more than getting back to school-it's also the beginning of the fall sports season. While fall sports injuries are common, making sure your child is prepared can help prevent some of the most common ones. Comprehensive Care for Children's Injuries Football is by far the biggest fall sport. It's also the one CHOC Children's sees the most injuries from, says John Schlechter, D.O., a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at CHOC. It's also the season for injuries from soccer and basketball. The most common injuries we see are strains, sprains, bumps and simple bone fractures, says Dr. Schlechter. He and the team of doctors at the CHOC Orthopaedic Institute also treat more serious injuries, such as shoulder dislocation, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and concussions. The CHOC Orthopaedic Institute is a comprehensive center for pediatric and adolescent sports medicine, which means, we can treat almost anything, says Dr. Schlechter. Our focus is on treating children, and that's what sets us apart from other orthopedists. We like to say that a youth athlete is not just a small adult athlete. Children are still growing, and their bodies are not fully formed. Some injuries can affect their growth, in turn affecting them for life if not properly treated. We treat the whole child, not just the injury. Watch for Overtraining Many sports injuries can be prevented. Many of these injuries are from overuse and overtraining, so it's important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of overtraining, Dr. Schlechter explains. These symptoms include: Playing a sport more than 20 hours a week can increase the risk for injury. Dr. Schlechter also stresses the importance of wearing protective gear and drinking plenty of fluids when playing sports. But above all, parents should listen to their children. If your child feels too tired, hurt or ill to play, let him or her sit on the sidelines, Dr. Schlechter says. The CHOC Children's Orthopaedic Institute is the only program of its kind in the region offering a wide range of comprehensive subspecialty programs specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of complex orthopaedic injury, illness and disorders in children and adolescents.
Children's Hospital of Orange County | 
University of California, Irvine