Kids' 'Overuse' Sports Injuries Are o...( Orthopedic surgeon James Gamble MD of...),Health

Orthopedic surgeon James Gamble, MD, offers tips to minimize risk

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PALO ALTO, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- "Exercise and sports participation is a double-edge sword," said James Gamble, MD, PhD, orthopedic surgeon at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. "We want children involved in physical activity outside, especially since we have an obesity crisis. Yet you can have too much of a good thing." If children are participating in too many activities, there may be a breakdown in their bones, ligaments and tendons, creating overuse injuries.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090303/SF77546)

With Daylight Saving Time starting March 8, kids will be playing sports longer, later and more often. In this new video release, Gamble offers tips to minimize the risk of children having overuse injuries. Highlights from the video:

Take a couple days off every week

To help avoid overuse injuries like stress fractures, Gamble highlights the importance of maintaining proper volume and intensity. "If kids are involved in an activity that stresses their bones, ligaments and tendons every day, their body doesn't have time to heal," said Gamble. "I recommend sports participation no more than five days a week, with two days off to rest."

Warming up to minimize injury

"You can't just go out and start running or playing soccer," said Gamble. "There needs to be a very aggressive warm-up period when children regain their flexibility. There's also the need for proper stretching and using the proper equipment, even in practices." Gamble strongly stresses hamstring flexibility, especially during pre-season conditioning. "Hamstring strains are one of the most common conditions we see," explained
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