 Football is one of the most popular sports played by young athletes, and it leads all other sports in the number of injuries sustained. In 2007, more than 920,000 athletes under the age of 18 were treated in emergency rooms, doctors’ offices, and clinics for football-related injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
StopSportsInjuries.org provides excellent informaton for parents and healthcare providers on how to recognize and even prevent sports injuries from harming young athletes. The development of the STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries campaign was initiated by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) in early 2007. Their website provides useful information on the subject of football related injuries.
According to experts, the most common football injuries are traumatic injuries, concussions, overuse injuries, and heat injuries. Many of these injuries are preventable with the proper equipment and training. If you are the parent of a young person participating in football or a trainer or coach, take the time to review the recommendations for football put forth by experts in the area. Your knowledge may enhance your child's experience and help him or her remain healthy and happy. |
