What can I do to protect my child from concussions?
The sports with the highest incidence of concussions are football, hockey, soccer, and cheerleading. Properly fitting headgear does reduce this. Recognizing the most common symptoms allows quicker diagnosis and management. There is evidence that a history of concussions is a risk factor for future concussions. The most common symptoms include headache, dizziness, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, and changes in vision. It is crucial for parents to encourage their children to report these symptoms and seek medical advice when these events arise.
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When is it too early for a child to start playing sports? My grandson is starting to play football, and he’s only 4.
For very young kids, sports need to be simplified. Practices need to be concise, and the sport needs to be taught without risking injury. If a 4-year-old wants to play football, the best way to protect the child would be to play flag football in which the rules of the game are taught, but the children are protected from impact.
I fear that my teenager is using performance-enhancing drugs to excel in high-school sports. How can I tell? What can I do? And what would be the long-term effects of such drugs?
The use of such drugs may cause behavioral, emotional, and psychological changes. Often, there is an associated increase in aggression. You may see rapid muscle growth, acne, and facial bloating or facial hair. I encourage all parents to stay involved, encourage integrity, and communicate the consequences of such illegal drug use. Long-term effects can include male pattern baldness, deepening of the voice, liver damage, premature growth-plate closure, and reproductive issues.
My children carry heavy backpacks, and they are continually complaining about back pain. What do you suggest we do?
Children are not skeletally mature, and therefore, their spines are not nearly as strong as adults’. A general rule of thumb is that the backpack should not exceed 15 percent of the child’s weight. The backpack should have wide shoulder straps, a well-padded back, and a waist strap to reduce the load on the spine. If your child cannot remove enough items to reduce the weight, then a roller bag may be an option.
My son plays elite sports, as well as on his school’s teams. Is there a guideline as to how much practicing is too much practicing—and playing? I worry that he will be more injury-prone due to the fact that he practices for hours and hours daily. Or am I just being a worrywart?
I encourage all young athletes to have time away from their sport. This helps both mentally and physically. The rate of overuse injuries is skyrocketing with the development of club and school teams. There are throwing guidelines in baseball, for instance, that have been studied extensively. Overuse injuries include tendinitis, growth-plate disturbance, muscle strain, and stress fractures. The developing musculoskeletal system needs time to rest and recover. Without this essential
time, the young athlete will eventually break down.
Are there any preventive steps my daughter, a lacrosse star, can take to avoid serious injuries?
Be sure she truly has an off-season to rest and recover. Off-season training should include strength training, cardiovascular exercise, core conditioning, and most important, plyometric (jump) training.
About the Doctor: Dr. Jason Young is an orthopedic surgeon practicing at Orthopedic Associates. He graduated from Boston College and received his medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Loyola University Medical Center and did a fellowship in sports medicine at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic in Denver.
