Youth and Interscholastic Sport Injury

Youth and Interscholastic Sport Injury Leslie Gibb October 10 2013 Georgia State University

Gibb 2

Youth and Interscholastic Sport Injuries Sports are an important role in everyday life, whether its watching, or even participating for most. Over 6 million high school students participated in scholastic sponsored sporting events during the 1998-1999 school years (Weaver p.199, 2002). There are many different levels to interscholastic sport starting at the youth level and continuing well into professionalism. The most robust presence is at the secondary-level, in high schools that have adequate funding and a significant enrollment, it is common to find teams at the freshman, junior varsity and varsity levels (Siedentop, p.138, 2009). There are many advantages and disadvantages in sports as with any other subject, and many students who participate in sports realize emotional and intellectual benefits. Students are able to understand concepts of fair play and sportsmanship, while emotional development has positive influences on scholastic achievement. Along with the advantages of development the most common disadvantage is injury. Garrick JG. Prevention of Sports Injuries emphasizes that recreational injuries account for more time loss than industrial injuries. A Massachusetts study reported that the most common reason for hospitalization and emergency room admittance for children aged thirteen to nineteen was for sports related injuries (as cited in Weaver p.200, 2002). One third of high school student athletes will sustain injuries disabling them from continuing through an entire season. With the more competition also come higher risks for injuries, high school athletes account for and estimated nearly 2 million injuries nationwide. The CDC conducted a study of sport injuries during the 2005-06 school years, and nine high school sports were studied with reports made by athletic trainers. Injuries occurred in practice and competition, football having

Gibb 3

the highest injury rate, wrestling, soccer, and girls basketball following close behind (Siedentop, 2009). There are nearly 40 million adolescents in sports today ranging from primary to secondary schools. In 2001 2.6 million injuries were reported, with 50,000 physicians visits by high school athletes alone, and nearly fifty fatal injuries per year (Merkel 2012 p.242). The most fatal injuries occurring in youth sports are concussions, sudden cardiac death, and heatillness. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published statements for the establishment of basic management guidelines for young athletes, because fourteen to nineteen year olds represent forty percent of concussions diagnosed in emergency departments (Merkel 2012 p.243). Eighty five percent of sudden death is related to cardiac emergencies in youth sports, and a combined 50 high school and college deaths occur per year. The most common form of sudden cardiac death is linked to Hypertrophic Cardiac Myopathy (HCM) which is an inherited gene mutation of an enlarged left ventricle and septum with disorganization of muscle fibers called myofibril disarray (Merkel 2012 p.246). Heat stroke is the third largest cause of death in high school athletes. Some studies have found a direct correlation of a higher rate of injuries between sports of excessive practice, than those who do not. There is a significantly higher amount of reported injuries during competition rather than training, or practice. More injuries are reported from contact sports, such as football or rugby prompting organizations to enact new policies (Theisen 2013 ). The NATA, or National Athletic Training Association, have published a set of guidelines or recommendations in order to lower risk of injury. NATA suggests pre-participation physicals, and six week pre-season conditioning. During practice there should be regular fluid breaks, with unrestricted access to water. Practices should not take place during times that are not overly hot

Gibb 4

or humid. Protective equipment should fit properly and be inspected on a regular basis. All injuries need to be evaluated immediately by a trained healthcare professional, and the institution should have access to these healthcare professionals along with standard proper equipment. All coaches need to be trained in first aid and CPR, while supervised rehabilitation should follow any injuries (Weaver p.200, 2002). Sports related injuries are becoming an epidemic in America now, reports of $282,000,000 are spent annually on medical bills resulting directly from youth sports related injuries. There is little epidemiological research on risk factors for youth sport injuries, and the man focus has been on treatment and management of injuries rather than the prevention of the injuries (Weaver p. 200, 2002). Currently there are more initiatives and other committees conducting research to gather as much information to start preventative care rather than remedial, which will help control an epidemic rather than subdue.

Gibb 5

References Merkel, Donna L., and Joseph T. Molony Jr. 2012. Medical Sports Injuries in the Youth Athlete: Emergency Management. International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy 7(2): 24251. http://ezproxy.gsu.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=tru e&db=sph&AN=77824495&site=eds-live (September 16, 2013). Siedentop, D. (2009). Introduction to physical education fitness & sport. (7th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw-Hill. Theisen, D, A Frisch, L Malisoux, A Urhausen, Jl Croisier, and R Seil. 2013. Injury Risk Is Different in Team and Individual Youth Sport. JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND MEDICINE IN SPORT 16(3): 200204. Weaver, N. L., Marshall, S. W., & Miller, M. D. (2002). Preventing sports injuries: opportunities for intervention in youth athletics. Patient Education and Counseling, 46(3), 199204. doi:10.1016/S0738-3991(01)00213-0