Preventing Sports Injuries in Kids and Teens

Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Every time an athlete heads out to a practice or a game, there’s risk for injury. As kids play more frequently and advance to more competitive teams, that risk increases.

From tee-ball to swimming to varsity football, the good news is that no matter the age of your child or their preferred sport, there are lots of things you can do to help prevent injuries.

In this episode, we open with the personal story of a stand-out high school athlete who was sidelined not once but twice by an ACL tear. We also hear from her pediatric orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Crystal Perkins, who serves as Medical Director of Orthopedic Quality and Outcomes at Children’s. An athlete herself, Dr. Perkins knows what it’s like to be taken out of the game you love and why it’s so important to do everything possible to prevent injury.

Dr. Perkins tackles parents’ frequently asked questions, such as:

• Should kids specialize in a single sport early on to increase chances for playing at a collegiate level?
• What are the most common injuries we see in kids?
• Are athletes in certain sports more prone to injuries?
• Do some conditions affect girls more than boys and vice versa?

Listeners will leave the episode with increased understanding of the most common risks associated with each sport. You’ll also learn why a pediatric sports medicine program dedicated to growing athletes gives your child the best chance at full recovery should the unfortunate happen.

For more about this episode and our podcast, visit www.choa.org/podcasts.

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Created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
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This podcast is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not to be considered medical advice for any particular patient. Clinicians must rely on their own informed clinical judgments when making recommendations for their patients. Patients in need of medical or behavioral advice should consult their family healthcare providers. In the event of an emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department. Product mentions are not endorsements.