Each year, millions of children in the United States enjoy the benefits of participating in organized athletic programs. These children learn how to play cooperatively and how to be "good sports." They improve their fitness level and, with any luck, they develop an enjoyment of sports that will be carried into adulthood.
However, a child's participation in organized sports activities is not without certain risks. Every year, hundreds of thousands of these child athletes suffer injuries, ranging from mild to catastrophic. Medical experts agree that it is not possible to prevent every one of these injuries, but they have identified several preventive measures that significantly reduce the risk of a child being hurt.
These include medical examinations before beginning sports programs, preconditioning activities, the use of proper protective equipment, and adjustments for adverse weather conditions.
The first step is to have the child examined by a physician. In many states, such an exam is required before a child can participate in organized athletics. The purpose of this examination is to identify preexisting medical problems that could increase the risk of injury when the child is active. The exam is not designed to exclude children from participating (as some parents fear). In fact, there are very few medical conditions that would completely restrict a child from playing organized sports, and surveys show that only about 1% of athletes are denied clearance.
The medical checkup is also a good time to discuss with your child's doctor proper training techniques and good nutrition. If a child is out of shape, a conditioning program should be started well before the scheduled sports activities. Poorly conditioned children are more likely to hurt themselves than those who are physically fit. Aerobic conditioning is important for almost any sport, but sport-specific training can also be useful. For example, a muscle-strengthening program that focuses on the shoulders and back can help prevent some injuries related to competitive swimming; stretching the muscles of the hips and legs can prevent some injuries associated with gymnastics and dancing.
Properly designed protective equipment can also prevent many sports-related injuries. Proper headgear and padding are especially important for children involved in contact sports such as football and martial arts, or high-velocity sports such as skiing, cycling and inline skating.
