Prevention of Sports-Related Injuries:
What every parent and player should know

By John J. Christoforetti, MD, Shoulder and Sports Medicine Specialist Tri-State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Sports participation is an important way for children and adults to achieve and maintain a healthy mental, physical and emotional balance. However, it is critical for athletes to learn how best to prepare for competition while avoiding short-term and potentially long-term or serious injury.

What are the types of sports related injuries?

Sports injuries can be separated into two categories: chronic overuse injuries and acute traumatic injuries. Acute traumatic injuries result from collisions or falls and are most common in contact sports such as football, hockey, soccer, lacrosse and basketball. Overuse injuries result when long periods of repetitive stressful exercise outpace the body’s ability to recover and repair. Traditionally, these injuries were seen primarily in endurance sports such as track and cross country running.

Recently, the trend has been for young athletes to “specialize” in one particular sport and participate in practices and games year-round. This has resulted in more overuse injuries in athletes within all sports.

Is it possible to reduce the chances for sports related injury?

Proper training methods can reduce the chances of both types of sports related injury. Sports specific training, appropriate rest periods, cross-training, good nutrition and pre-season screening by a sports medicine specialist can reduce the chances of overuse injury. Additionally, there are new methods for training balance, core strength, and body awareness that have been shown to reduce serious knee and ankle injuries. Finally, knowing and using the proper shoe wear, playing surfaces and protective equipment plays an important role.

What is the best way to learn more about proper training and injury prevention?

Parents and athletes should make a point of meeting the members of the sports medicine team and discussing potential ways of customizing workouts and game-day equipment before injuries happen.

Many school districts provide certified athletic trainers (ATCs) to assist athletes and coaches on the sidelines and in the training rooms. These individuals possess specialized training and experience in the care and prevention of athletic injuries. If possible, the onsite sports medicine team should be working closely with a fellowship- trained sports medicine physician to guide athletes in preparation for safe and successful competition.

Online information can be found at the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine website: www.sportsmed.org. To learn more about Dr. Christoforetti’s practice at Tri-State Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, visit www.tristateortho.com.

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