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Media Releases
Sports Injuries Rates Highest for Children Ages 10 to 14
Columbia, Mo. (Apr. 4, 2006) - Being physically active is beneficial for everyone, but for those who don't exercise properly, the benefits can come at a price: sports injuries. With more children in U.S. engaging in sports at a younger age, the number of sports injuries is also on the rise, a fact worth much attention in this "National Youth Sports Safety Month."
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 4.3 million people seek emergency treatment for sports and recreation-related each year in the U.S. That's 23% more than those hurt in car accidents.
Children, especially boys aged between 10Ð14 years bear the highest risks of sports injuries. It is estimated that over 3.5 million children under age 15 require medical treatment for sports-related injuries. Basketball-related injuries, along with football- and bicycle- related injuries, rank among the leading types of sports injuries for US youths aged 10 to 19. For kids under 10 years old, playground- and bicycle- related injuries, such as those caused by scooter and trampoline usage, are the ones that should be most cautioned of.
A Connection between Sports Injury and Osteoarthritis
Although most sports injuries are temporary, with no impact on one's later life, for some, problems may occur long after the accident. Osteoarthritis (OA) is perhaps the most serious risk one needs to be wary about.
As the most common form of arthritis, OA is primarily related to aging. With OA, the cartilage that allows bones to glide over one another is worn away, causing the bones to grind against each other. This results in pain, swelling and stiffness. However, some people who were injured in sports activities in early lives have also been diagnosed with OA in their 30's and 40's. One study, in particular, found that a single knee injury early in life could put a person at five times the risk for osteoarthritis in adulthood. Another study from UK found almost half of retired elite soccer players suffer from OA in their 50's.
"These early injuries often predispose patients for developing osteoarthritis by changing the biomechanics of a particular joint. This causes repetitive stresses that subsequently can lead to 'wear and tear' or other anatomical changes resulting in OA and pain," explains Gregory Worsowicz, M.D., MBA, Chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the MU School of Medicine and co-principal investigator for the Missouri Arthritis Rehabilitation Research and Training Center (MARRTC).
Some of the injuries that are likely to lead to OA include damage to a ligament or a torn cartilage. Both can result from a blow to or twist of the knee, changing direction rapidly, sudden slowing down when running, or an improper landing from a jump.
It is important to note that, while cartilage is a living tissue, it's largely unable to repair itself. When a knee is examined one year after a cartilage injury, it is virtually unchanged from 24 hours after the injury. "While cartilage damage is considered to be permanent at present," adds Dr. Worsowicz, "there are multiple studies and trials looking at effectiveness of medications, surgical interventions, cartilage and cell transplantation as a treatment."
How to Prevent Sports Injuries
1. Proper Conditioning. When someone is poorly conditioned or fatigued, the muscles do not protect the joints. It is important for anyone to start sports with enough stamina, strength and flexibility.
2. Knee Protection. Because of its complex structure and weight-bearing capacity, the knee is the most commonly injured joint. Avoid sudden pivoting of your knee. Do not run too hard, too long, or without proper warm-up. (For warm-up information, please visit http://www.marrtc.org/warmup/)
3. Proper nutrition and hydration. Stay well hydrated by drinking enough water or sports drinks. Dehydration can cause fatigue and increase the chance of injury.
4. Proper form. Learn the technique of a specific sport, and follow the rules of the game.
5. Prepare protective equipment for certain sports.
6. Carefully select the activities that you participate in. If you have had an injury that would predispose you to osteoarthritis, it is important to choose sports that will not put excessive biomechanical stresses on the predisposed joint.
The Missouri Arthritis Research Rehabilitation and Training Center (MARRTC) was established in 1971 at the University of Missouri-Columbia Arthritis Center. MARRTC is funded by the U.S. Department of Education's National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (H133B031120) and is the only federally funded arthritis rehabilitation research and training center in the country.
As part of the MU Health Communication Research Center (HCRC), MARRTC's mission is to become a national leader in the areas of disability management and communication, improve the quality of life and promote independent living among people who have arthritis and arthritic conditions. MARRTC's core message is "Disability is everyone's issue."
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