Appreciated globally by a wide demographic, sports serve as a global form of entertainment. This, however, does not dismiss the clear and present dangers that sports entail.
Serving as an occupation, outlet and lifestyle, sports draws attention on a worldwide spectrum. This influence gives rise to young talents from all over wanting to pick up a sport early in life.
One of the most important aspects of playing a sport is the health and condition of the athlete. This holds especially true when referring to children. According to a study conducted by John Hopkins University, 32 percent of life threatening injuries sustained by children are sports related, compared to 9 percent for adults.
“The incidents of recurring injuries are high and probably 80 percent of the time student athletes come back with the same repeated injuries or ones very similar in nature,” Krop’s Athletic Trainer Juliana Edwards said.
Injuries typically vary depending on the condition of the athlete, as body structure differs from athlete to athlete. According to the National Institute of Health, during periods of increased growth, young athletes are vulnerable to a variety of overuse injuries.
Depending on the stage of physical growth, children’s injuries are often different from those of adults. Children’s bones are weaker than their tendons and ligaments, increasing the risk of fractures or breaks in the growth plate. With underdeveloped bodies, children are inherently at higher risk for injuries.
“My freshman year I didn’t know how to properly take care of my body or what to do to recover properly such as stretching and treatment and I ended up pulling my hip,” senior and Wrestling Captain Jeremiah Louis said. “That really made me take a step back and realize that if I want to be an athlete that’s able to perform that I need to prioritize my health above all else,”.
Injuries are not limited to external parts of the body, some of the most severe injuries happen from within. Concussions have long term effects, side effects include headaches, trouble with concentration, memory, balance, sleep and light sensitivity. According to a study conducted by the University of Tennessee, between 14 and 32 percent of collegiate athletes experience a concussion.
“ The most important thing to remember when recovering from a concussion is to take your time, not rushing to get back to whatever you’re doing and making sure you’re fully recovered because it’s a very serious situation,” junior Sean Santil said.
Acknowledgement and understanding of risk factors, precautionary measures and proper recovery procedures by all parties involved in the safety and care of young athletes playing sports is essential to minimizing the risk of injuries that threatens the youth.