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Muscles, Joints, Ligaments & Bones

SmartTeams Talk Short: Don't Drink Kool-Aid On Perceived Benefits Of Early Sport Specialization, Warns Jayanthi

A leading researcher on sport specialization says data shows that there is only one sport, gymnastics, in which early intensive training/specialization before the age of 12 is necessary for success at the elite level.

SmartTeams™ Talk: Dr. Neeru Jayanthi Explores The Myths And Dangers Of Sports Specialization

A pediatric sports medicine expert asks parents not to buy into the idea that sport specialization will increase their chances of playing sports in college, to listen to the data linking specialization and increased risk of serious overuse injury, and recommends that kids not play sports more hours per week than their age.

SmartTeams™ Talk: Nationwide Children's MacDonald Urges Multi-Pronged Public Health Approach To Preventing Youth Sports Injuries

A pediatric sports medicine specialist says that to prevent youth sports injuries we need to "think like Sweden" in setting as a goal zero youth sports injuries; use protective equipment such as properly fitted and maintained helmets, mouthguards, and goggles; and recognize that education is not enough to change the cultural and physical environment of youth sports, but requires active implementation of sports safety best practices at the grass roots level.

SmartTeams™ Talk: NCAA's Hainline Sees Overspecialization and Overuse Injuries As Signs of Broken Youth Sports Model

In a powerful SmartTeams Talk, the NCAA's Chief Medical Officer discusses two major NCAA-funded research studies on sport-related concussions and its efforts to address mental health issues among college athletes, and sees in the trend toward sports specialization and the overuse injury epidemic clear signs of a broken youth sports system.

Counting Pitches Can Save Young Players' Arms But Not Always Used Consistently

Guidelines on how many pitches young athletes should throw have been developed to stem the tide of overuse injuries, but many coaches are not following the recommendations consistently, according to a study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2014 National Conference & Exhibition in San Diego.

Preventing Back Pain In Children: Parents Can Help Kids Develop Healthy Spine Habits

Heavy school backpacks, lack of physical activity, and poor posture are all things that can contribute to back pain, so as children head back to school, here are some tips from a top orthopedic surgeon on how parents can help prevent their child from developing back pain.

The Empire (Of Moms) Strikes Back - The Benefits Of Yoga In Recovering From A Sports-Related Back Injury (Part IV)

Six months ago my son was complaining about persistent back pain. He ended up being diagnosed with two small fractures in his lower back at the L-3 vertabrae. The pain and startling realization finally set in that his spring and summer sports activities would not happen. I remember standing in a hospital hallway feeling like a riptide had swept over me. I could not breathe. I could not think. I was consumed with how and why this injury had occurred. My son was beside himself with grief and a fear of the unknown: would he be ready to go in the fall for his beloved sport of football?   

In the latest chapter in her ongoing series of blogs chronicling her son's recovery from a stress fracture in his back, a Texas mom discovers that football players, from the National Football League on down - can benefit from yoga.

The Plank And The World Cup: Recovering from A Sports-Related Back Injury (Part III)


The end of June and first part of July became an exceptionally busy time at our house, juggling the final stretch of Physical Therapy for our son while trying to watch every second of the soccer World Cup coverage! Lucky for us, the Physical Therapy gym is well equipped with TV monitors, all tuned in to sports! Physical therapy

A Texas football mom and her son juggle his final stretch of physical therapy after a stress fracture of his back with watching the Team USA in the FIFA World Cup.

Back in Action, If Not In The Game: A Halftime Report On A Teenager's Recovery From A Stress Fracture Of His Spine

First, a thank you

In my last blog I wrote about my son's back injury and the start of physical therapy, but before I report on his progress, I want to extend a special thank you to everyone who contacted me after reading my blog post. My intuition told me that the fractured spine he suffered is an injury that has affected many other youth athletes and families. I was completely overwhelmed by the number of people who called, emailed, IM'd, commented on the blog site, or ran me down (figuratively, at least) in the grocery store to ask about my son. Thank you all so much.

After suffering a stress fracture of his lumbar spine, a 13-year-old Texas football player begins rehabbing his injury with rigorous physical therapy. His mom provides a halftime report from the sideline.

Throwing Injuries No Longer Just for the Pros

Year-round sport, with the addition of numerous leagues, travel teams, showcase events and other opportunities for youth to play baseball outside of school, has contributed to a 10-fold increase in Tommy John surgery in the last decade, says an alarming new study.
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