A divided New Jersey Supreme Court on Thursday declined to break legal ice, and dismissed a lawsuit by a woman who was injured by a puck during warm-ups at a minor league hockey game in Trenton.
http://www.njherald.com/291429532827851.php
“US researchers have found a simple, inexpensive screening tool that can predict athletes at risk of ankle injuries during soccer training and help them avoid it.
In their study, team players who were unable to complete a ‘single-leg balance’ test on one or both legs were two-and-a-half times more likely to sprain their ankles during the subsequent season than those who could complete the test. The relative risk rose to just under nine times more for those who failed the test and then didn’t go on to tape their ankles.
http://swiftonline.com/crossfit/archives/1197
Rock River Times
from the April 11-17, 2007, issue
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 80 percent of sports-related injuries in children result from playing football, basketball, baseball or soccer. Two-thirds of these injuries are soft-tissue injuries, including sprains (tearing of a ligament) and strains (tearing of a muscle or tendon). Only 5 percent of children’s sports injuries involve broken bones.
Dr. Packard-Spicer offers the following suggestions to help guide young athletes to safety:
Wear protective gear and make sure it fits properly and is sport-appropriate. “Only use equipment specifically designed for the sport your child is playing. I’ve seen some kids wear football cleats for soccer, and due to the peg underneath the shoe, they end up tripping,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer.
Kids should play by the rules. Not playing by the rules results in fouls and penalties, which increases the likelihood of injury.
Parents and coaches should be aware of the appropriate body mechanics and physiology behind each sport. “It’s key for a coach and for parents to understand what body positions and stretching techniques best protect a player,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer. “A classic example of an incorrect technique that can possibly tear ligaments is a hurdle stretch that has kids stand on one leg and reach their other one off to the side. The correct method is to bend the elevated leg and hold it or tuck it close to the back side of the body.”
Don’t play through the pain or with an injury. “It’s important to respect the healing process and to avoid playing when one has an injury,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer. “Also, know your child and the signs that he or she shows when in pain, and instead of telling him to ‘tough it out,’ pull him out of the game to prevent an actual injury.”
Kids need chiropractic adjustments. “Kids as early as age 7 complain of transient back pain. Children, especially those that play sports, need chiropractic adjustments to ensure spinal stability, muscle balance, to improve biomechanics, and to have optimal nerve functioning,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer. “Chiropractic adjustments in childhood can help prevent chronic back pain and joint problems in the future. Most people think these types of adjustments are only for adults wanting to relieve back pain, but research shows that children and even infants have been safely adjusted for decades to relieve certain conditions including colics, asthma and reflexes.”
Good nutrition is important for bone building. “Especially for kids, it is important to eliminate the ‘junk’ food from their diets and to add the necessary fruits and vegetables, calcium, and protein that help build strong bones,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer.
Warm up, cool down, and be conscious of your movements. Warm-up and cool down stretches are necessary to prevent muscle spasms, and they help promote good body mechanics. “Make sure children don’t rush through stretches and are aware of their motions,” says Dr. Packard-Spicer.
For additional resources about preventing sports injuries in children, visit http://www.nwhealth.edu/nss, a Web site focusing on natural approaches to health and wellness hosted by Northwestern Health Sciences University.