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ELEVATE YOUR

SPORTS SAFETY:

   A GOAL FOR YOUR FAMILY TEAM

Playing sports is a fun way to stay active, but there are risks when young athletes take the field.
Proper safety can help keep children safe when they compete.

ABOUT 45 MILLION young people play sports in the U.S., and            COLLISION COURSE
there are many reasons why. Sport programs are fun and social
activities, and children gain many benefits from them, according      There are a lot of moving pieces in play during games of football,
to Catherine Orr, PT, DPT, physical therapist at Rehabilitation       soccer, basketball and other sports. Collisions are a major cause of
Hospital, Navicent Health.                                            concern for young athletes and their parents, especially because of
                                                                      the risk of concussions.
   “Participating in sports improves motor skills and coordination,”
Orr says. “Being part of a team and working with others also             “A blow to the head or running into another player can cause
improve children’s social skills and help them develop mentally.      serious injury to the brain,” says Rogelio de la Cruz, MD, Medical
But families and athletes need to focus on safety to get the most     Director of Pediatric Emergency Center, Navicent Health. “When
out of the experience.”                                               the injury disrupts the transmission of signals in the brain, this is
                                                                      called a concussion.”
   When playing contact sports like football, there is an increased
risk of injury, especially for kids between the ages of 10 and 17,       Identifying concussions and following up with proper medical
Orr explains.                                                         care can help young athletes prevent long-term health problems.

   “Children grow rapidly at this age,” Orr says. “That causes tight     “When concussions are managed properly, most do not result
muscles and tendons, loose ligaments, and vulnerable growth plates,   in long-term symptoms,” Orr says. “Parents, coaches and athletic
all of which increase the risk of injury during contact sports.”      trainers can keep children safe by knowing the signs and
                                                                      responding quickly to possible concussions.”

4 navicenthealth.org | FALL 2017
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