Sports Injuries Put Youth at Risk
According to the Arthritis Foundation, nearly 996,000 youth injuries occur annually from family recreational activities such as biking, playground activities and roller sports. In addition, youth sports-related injuries such as basketball, football and soccer account for more than 775,000 hospital emergency room visits each year. With more than 30 million kids participating in organized sports in the United States and countless more engaging in other recreational activities, the Arthritis Foundation urges parents to understand the risk of these injuries leading to arthritis later in life. Todays young athletes may become tomorrows osteoarthritis patients, unless parents and coaches take an active role in sports injury prevention, said John H. Klippel, M.D., president and CEO, Arthritis Foundation. According to one Arthritis Foundation study, a single knee injury early in life can put a person at five times the risk for osteoarthritis (OA) later in life. Another such study found that of female patients who had obtained an ACL injury by age 19, 50 percent had radiographic knee OA by age 31. For men, the average age for an ACL injury is 24. By age 38, 40 percent of men who have had an ACL injury have knee OA. Physical activity is important, as it strengthens the muscles that support and help stabilize the joints, reducing the risks for OA. However, certain preventative measures should be taken by coaches and parents to lower a childs risk of arthritis from sports-related injuries. The Arthritis Foundation offers a few guidelines such as making sure equipment is in good condition and ensuring that training program or recreational activity gives attention to total body fitness. For more information on sports-injury prevention and OA prevention see the Arthritis Foundations “Fact and React” handout on your local AF homepage. About the Arthritis Foundation Striking one in every five adults and 300,000 children, arthritis is the nations leading cause of disability. The Arthritis Foundation is committed to raising awareness and reducing the impact of this serious, painful and unacceptable disease, which can severely damage joints and rob people of living life to its fullest. The Foundation funds life-changing research that has restored mobility in patients for more than six decades; fights for health care policies that improve the lives of the millions who live with arthritis; and partners with families to provide empowering programs and information. source: www.pr.com
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