More than 2.6 million children and teens go to the Emergency Room with sports injuries each year.
Want to keep your kid from being one of them?
Experts say establishing a healthy training routine is the key to preventing most injuries. This includes stretching and cooling down, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep. Experts also say it’s important to avoid comparison, as every child is different in terms of growth, muscle strength and bone density.
And the ability to play particular sports safely is age dependent. Young bodies are still growing, developing, and getting things in place. Certain vigorous sport and contact may damage developing bodies. And competition needs to be held in check to some extent so your young athlete can enoy the sport for a lifetime.
In our interview, Pediatric Sports Specialist Naomi J. Brown, MD from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers helpful advice for parents and young athletes on how to keep your body in good condition and what to do when an accident happens.