National Pastime – Sports

Sports play is embedded in our lives. Community sports teams, scholastic sports teams, professional sports teams and fantasy teams are a part of our daily lives for both men and women and our kids. Think about how the Super Bowl takes over our lives for half the day on a given Sunday! It’s a part of our make-up. Football, Baseball, Basketball, Hockey, Soccer, Lacrosse, Volleyball, Tennis, Olympic sports competition and on and on. 

Recently we learned about the potential devastating effects that contact sports can have on the brain’s cognitive functions. Unfortunately all sports have risks of injury. Generally speaking the more physical contact in a sport then the greater the risk of traumatic injury. Perhaps to your surprise most injuries in young athletes are due to the body’s overuse. Most frequent sports injuries are sprains (injuries to ligaments), strains (injuries to muscles), and stress fractures (injuries to bone). 

What are some things you can do to reduce the risks of injuries? First of all you have to use protective gear for the sport you are participating in. Properly fitting equipment such as pads (neck, shoulder, elbow, chest, knee, and shin), helmets, mouthpieces, face guards, protective cups and protective eyewear are necessary. These considerations are not options. Next you have to be in good physical shape- strong muscles, flexibility around the joints and stopping activity if you feel pain particularly from overuse. How many more Tommy John surgeries do our young athletes need or is this the new norm? Finally you must take time off for your body to recover. Unfortunately many of us get caught up with winning and our common sense regarding injuries strikes out!! 

So at what point is the risk of potential life threatening injuries and incurring lifelong abnormalities worth the participation in a sport? Well that is for you to decide. As an adult is it worth the risk of potential surgeries from that competitive basketball game and blowing out your knee, ankle or back? As a parent or community coach is it worth the risk of concussions from traumatic hits to the body?

There is going to be much publicity regarding the football concussions issues and brain injuries. In my opinion although there will be more safety precautions implemented however, the risks are still a major consideration. You will hear many so called experts on both sides of the issue – it’s safe and it’s not safe. The answer- as the data continues to accumulate regarding injury you must read it and understand it. Then YOU must make a decision – although the risks are being identified and minimized (hopefully) – are the end results of participation worth it??