IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Spring 2018 | Page 11

A Winning Game Plan
for Youth Sports
Important information for parents from
the experts at UPMC Sports Medicine.
Youth athletes are prone to a number of common
injuries, including:
• Knee injuries
• Fractures and dislocations
• Shin splints
• Achilles tendon injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Overuse injuries
Playing year-round, on multiple teams, or focusing
on one sport increases the risk of injury.
To help prevent injury:
• Don’t ignore pain. Do not let your child play through pain.
It may be due to an underlying condition that could result in
further injury if ignored.
• Focus on nutrition. Many young athletes compete after
school making lunch an essential fuel source for competition.
Pack healthy snacks and make sure your child is hydrating well
before practice or a game.
• Take a break! Avoid having your child play only the same
sport all year-round to give the body a chance to rest and recover.
• Train properly. Consult an expert on injury prevention
exercises to ensure players’ safety throughout the season.
UPMCSportsMedicine.com
1-855-93-SPORT (77678)
SPORTS506981 SR/RO 02/18