Sport Injury Prevention – President’s Message: October 10
By Dr. Mary Campagnolo, MSNJ President
Over 3.5 million children ages 14 years and under receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year, according to Safe Kids, USA, a group of organizations that work together to prevent unintentional childhood injury. As the fall athletic pre-season is about to begin at schools throughout New Jersey, it is important to note that 62 percent of sports-related injuries happen during practice rather than games.
The National Institutes of Health’s MedlinePlus makes the following recommendations for reducing the risk of sports injury:
- Getting a physical to make sure you are healthy before you start playing your sport
- Wearing the right shoes, gear and equipment
- Drinking lots of water
- Warming-up and stretching
- Recovering from old injuries completely before starting-up your sport again. If possible, protect the injured part of your body with padding, a brace or special equipment. When you do start playing again, start slowly.
The National Institutes of Health’s web site MedlinePlus, is a free resource available for patients and their families. Produced by the National Library of Medicine, it offers information about diseases, conditions, and wellness issues.
