Kids' 'Overuse' Sports Injuries Are on the Rise

Orthopedic surgeon James Gamble, MD, offers tips to minimize risk

ACL tears in girls seen as 'an absolute epidemic'

PALO ALTO, Calif., March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- "Exercise and sports participation
is a double-edge sword," said James Gamble, MD, PhD, orthopedic surgeon at
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. "We want children involved in
physical activity outside, especially since we have an obesity crisis. Yet you
can have too much of a good thing." If children are participating in too many
activities, there may be a breakdown in their bones, ligaments and tendons,
creating overuse injuries.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090303/SF77546)

With Daylight Saving Time starting March 8, kids will be playing sports
longer, later and more often. In this new video release, Gamble offers tips to
minimize the risk of children having overuse injuries. Highlights from the
video:

Take a couple days off every week
To help avoid overuse injuries like stress fractures, Gamble highlights the
importance of maintaining proper volume and intensity. "If kids are involved
in an activity that stresses their bones, ligaments and tendons every day,
their body doesn't have time to heal," said Gamble. "I recommend sports
participation no more than five days a week, with two days off to rest."

Warming up to minimize injury
"You can't just go out and start running or playing soccer," said Gamble.
"There needs to be a very aggressive warm-up period when children regain their
flexibility. There's also the need for proper stretching and using the proper
equipment, even in practices." Gamble strongly stresses hamstring flexibility,
especially during pre-season conditioning. "Hamstring strains are one of the
most common conditions we see," explained Gamble. "Strengthening and toning of
abdominal and gluteal muscles is highly important, too, as these muscles
protect the back."

Ratio of sports injuries among boys and girls
"It's changing," said Gamble. "I'm definitely seeing more girls, especially
for sports injuries like anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, which are now
three times more common in girls than boys. It's an absolute epidemic." In
this video, Gamble also explains why girls are at a greater risk for ACL tears
even in non-contact sports.

These tips and more can be found at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVrimp1rURo.

Contact:
Robert Dicks
650-497-8364
rdicks@lpch.org

About Lucile Packard Children's Hospital
Ranked as one of the nation's best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World
Report, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford is a 272-bed hospital
devoted to the care of children and expectant mothers. Providing pediatric and
obstetric medical and surgical services and associated with the Stanford
University School of Medicine, Packard Children's offers patients locally,
regionally and nationally the full range of health care programs and services,
from preventive and routine care to the diagnosis and treatment of serious
illness and injury. For more information, visit www.lpch.org.

SOURCE Lucile Packard Children's Hospital

Robert Dicks of Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, +1-650-497-8364,
rdicks@lpch.org