Sports Medicine Articles
From sports injury prevention and training to nutrition and weather-related resources, access helpful tips and tricks from our sports medicine experts.
Injuries
ACL Injuries in Children and Adolescents
The primary difference between an adult and child knee is the growth center or physis. These are regions at the end of the femur and tibia on both sides of the knee that provide most of the growth of the leg.
Breaking Stride
Fractures and dislocations are two of the more serious types of injuries that can occur during an athletic event. Early recognition and prompt medical treatment are extremely important with these injuries in athletes.
Cauliflower Ear
Cauliflower ear, or “hematoma auris”, is a collection of blood between the cartilage of the ear and the skin. When the ear lobe is repetitively struck or bent, as in taking a helmet on and off, the underlying cartilage is traumatized.
Cheerleading Injuries: Risk Factors and Prevention Tips
Competitive cheerleading involves a great deal of tumbling and stunting activities. The repetitive tumbling routines place a great deal of pressure on the spine and can result in stress fractures.
Concussions in Sports
A concussion occurs whenever a child's mental status changes as a result of trauma (usually a blow to the head). A child who shows signs of mental confusion or is "dinged" by a blow to the head has suffered a concussion.
Hip Pointers
The term “hip pointer” is often used as a catch all phrase for any injury resulting in pain to the front of the hip. However, this is not always the case.
Is Your Rotator Cuff A Sore Subject?
What exactly is the rotator cuff? The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that form to hold parts of the shoulder together.
Little League Elbow
Today, "little league elbow" includes injuries that are not only unique to the immature upper extremity, but also to the specific demands of sports like baseball, tennis, golf and gymnastics.
Osteochondritis Dissecans
Osteochondritis dissecans is an injury or condition affecting a surface of the joint that involves separation of a segment of cartilage and the underlying bone. This can occur in any joint, it is most common in the knee, followed by the ankle, elbow and shoulder.
The Sprains and Strains of Sporting Injuries
Sprains and strains are some of the most common types of injuries in any sport. They involve the stretching or tearing of tissue.
Why Does My Knee Hurt?
One thing that all of these causes of anterior knee pain have in common is that they are usually overuse injuries and can be treated and prevented without surgery.
Swimming with a SICK Scapula (Shoulder Blade)
The shoulder joint and scapula work and move together to perform the overhead motions that occur in swimming. To perform the overhead motions in swimming correctly, swimmers need a lot of shoulder mobility and stability.
Wrestling and Skin Conditions
The following are skin diseases associated with wresting that may not be covered for competition. Report anything suspicious to your athletic trainer or physician ASAP so you can stay competitive.
Highlights of the OHSAA Concussion Policy
Are you familiar with the OHSAA concussion policy? The policy states that all adults involved with high school athletics are responsible for knowing, understanding, and following this policy.
Injury Prevention
Are You Prepared for Your Sport?
As competitive levels increase in younger age groups it is the responsibility of parents and coaches to be knowledgeable in proper conditioning programs and to know when to rest athletes to prevent unnecessary and avoidable injuries.
Mouth Guards in Sports: A Necessary Piece of Equipment
Some experts recommend that mouthguards be worn by athletes in competitive and recreational sports in which impact, contact and collision are likely to occur.
Preventative Measures for Asthmatic Athletes
The seasonal transition often takes a toll on asthmatic athletes. With proper education and prevention, asthma shouldn’t have to sideline your child.
Stretching
Stretching is used to increase the flexibility of muscles. There are several different types of stretching including static, dynamic, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF).
Tips for New Runners: How Much is Too Much?
There are recommendations for level and intensity of training for kids in all sports but the number one rule is to emphasize fun, safety and fitness when it comes to kids.
Use Strength and Preparation to Keep Your Dancer in Top Form
Most young ballerinas can’t wait to take their dancing to the next level, but there are some things to consider so they don’t end up damaging their feet.
To Tape or to Brace... is that the Question?
Ankle sprains are the most common sports-relates injuries in the United States, accounting for an estimated 12 million injuries per year. These injuries can result in significant time away from games and practices.
How to Choose Running Shoes
Shoes that are chosen specifically for foot type and fitted properly can help keep athletes healthy and possibly prevent injuries such as shin splints and stress fractures.
How to Choose Orthotics
Improper foot alignment can cause pain anywhere in the foot, legs, and back. Some lower extremity pain and injuries may be helped and/or prevented by orthotics.
Nutrition
Dietary Supplements & Young Athletes
Young athletes have a very high energy demand based on their need for growth, development, overall health, and activity level. Many athletes struggle to meet their nutritional needs and often turn to supplements to help fill this gap.
Fueling and Hydrating Before, During and After Exercise
Proper fuel and hydration before, during and after exercise is key to getting the most out of your training and optimize performance. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are the nutrients that provide the body with energy.
Healthy Snack Choices for Youth Sports
Team snacks are an ideal opportunity to teach young athletes about good nutrition. Remember, the goal of the game should not be the snacks at the end!
Weather-Related
How to Help Your Kids Beat the Heat
Heat stroke is ranked third in cause of death of U.S. high school athletes behind head and neck injuries and cardiac conditions. This becomes an even greater concern in younger athletes.
Winter Weather Advisory
Winter brings injuries unique to cold weather sports. Two of the more common categories of injuries are those influenced by environmental conditions and accidents.
Training
Promoting Youth Fitness
Youth fitness has steadily declined over the past decade and childhood obesity is at an all time high. Here are some ideas to help empower the kids to make good activity choices.
Strength Training for Children
Strength training has proven to be a safe and effective method of conditioning for adults. Learn if strength training is okay for children and adolescents.
Strength Training with a Limited Budget
There are some simple ways to perform light strength training at home with everyday objects that can be used for resistance.
Home Treatment
Don't Forget the Rehab
Rehabilitation of an injury is the most effective means of reducing an athlete's time on the sideline. An athlete's return to play can be sped up by dedication and compliance to a structured rehabilitation program.
Is Your Ankle Playing Tricks on You?
Ankle sprains happen. Athletes learn the concepts of P.R.I.C.E. (Protect, Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) early in their career as a way to manage acute (recent) injuries with swelling and pain.
Kid's Sports Injuries: The Numbers are Impressive
Physical activity is necessary for normal growth in children. However, when the activity level becomes too intense or too excessive in a short time period, tissue breakdown and injury can occur.
Swelling: The Body's Reaction to Injury
Swelling is a normal reaction of the body to an injury. Sometimes, though, the body goes overboard, and the inflammatory response is excessive and can actually begin to cause more damage than good.
The ABCs of Blister Care
We have all undoubtedly had a blister at one point and will more than likely encounter them again. Though blisters may be nagging they can be prevented. The key to blister success is prevention and proper treatment.
General Sports Medicine
Allowing Youth Sports to be Child's Play
It has been documented that physical activity is necessary for normal growth in children. However, when the activity level becomes too intense, or excessive, in too short a time period tissue breakdown and injury can occur.
Antibiotic Resistance
While antibiotics are one of the greatest advancements ever in medicine, over prescribing them has resulted in the development of bacteria that do not respond to treatment.
STOP THE MADNESS - How to be a Good Fan
Anyone who has spent time around youth athletics is sure to have seen inappropriate sideline behavior. To help kids get the most out of their experiences, parents need to be good “sports” parents.
Sports Safety
Children should be at least six years of age before they begin team sports. Before this age, get your child involved in sports that focus on learning and having fun.
What Is an Athletic Trainer?
Certified Athletic Trainers (ATCs) are the some of the most comprehensively prepared allied medical professionals, trained to deal with the injuries of young athletes. Learn about their important role within the Sports Medicine team.
Ice Hockey Concussion Rules
Due to the recent increase of concussion injuries in ice hockey, new rules have been set in the sport to prevent further head trauma to young players.