Shriners Hospitals supports Bone and Joint Awareness Week; Winning Ways to Play It Safe.

TAMPA, Fla. -- Shriners Hospitals for Children:

--"Let's go outside and play," sounds like fun.

--"Hey batter batter!" echoes the excitement of a youth baseball game.

Games and sports, while a cherished part of childhood, can also cause injuries, especially to young bones and joints. In the United States, more than 3.5 million children ages 14 and under receive medical treatment for sports injuries each year. Children ages 5 to 14 account for almost 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms. During U. S. Bone and Joint National Awareness Week (Oct. 12-20, 2005), Shriners Hospitals for Children will focus on ways to prevent sports-related orthopaedic injuries in children.

U.S. Bone and Joint Awareness Week is an extension of U.S. Bone and Joint Decade, which continues through 2011. The Decade is supported by many organizations; several, like Shriners Hospitals, emphasize pediatrics.

During Bone and Joint Awareness Week, these organizations, including the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), will place an intense effort on increasing public understanding and awareness of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Equal attention will be given to discussing ways to prevent or decrease the number of those injuries.

"Our emphasis must always be on the prevention side of the equation as far as sports related injuries in children are concerned. We must have a better understanding of the impact of various sports activities on the bodies of growing children. This increasing knowledge must be used to develop and refine age-specific guidelines for conditioning and participation in sports," said Dr. Peter Armstrong, director of medical affairs for Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Several things put children at particular risk. Children are susceptible to injuries just because their bones and joints are still growing. Also, children are less coordinated and have slower reaction times than adults. As children grow, the potential for injury intensifies because increased strength and size means increased force on impact.

Overall, the most common sports related injuries are sprains, (especially ankle sprains), strains, contusions, abrasions and lacerations. The most common cause of joint injury is overuse, caused by repetitive movements. Some common overuse injuries are anterior knee pain, caused by muscle tightness; little league elbow, caused by repetitive throwing; and swimmer's shoulder, caused by repetitious overhead movement. Stress fractures can also occur from overuse of muscles and tendons. The more time spent playing a particular sport, the more likely an overuse injury is to occur.

There are several things that can be done to lessen the chance of an injury. For example, since most injuries in organized sports occur during practice, rather than games, it is important to remember to take the same precautions and provide the same protective equipment during practice sessions. Making sure that games and sports are played and practiced on proper surfaces is also important. Proper training and awareness of strength and flexibility requirements for different sports can also reduce the possibility of an injury. Choosing age-appropriate activities is another consideration. Prior to any sports involvement, children should have a pre-participation evaluation, a physical examination with emphasis on evaluating the neuromusculoskeletal evaluation. In addition, adequate adult supervision, as well as the availability of appropriately trained coaches and referees is extremely important.

A simple, powerful safety phrase Lonnie Evans, a parent of three, and a former elementary school physical education teacher in Minnesota, taught his children is "eyes open, heads up."

"Whether it's soccer or a simple game of tag, things can change quickly. You want to teach them to be aware - know where their teammates are, where the ball is, or if someone is running toward them," he said. Another idea is to help children become involved in their surroundings, checking for objects on fields that should be removed; being aware whether the ground is especially wet or slippery.

Physical activity and exercise is important for all children, including those with disabilities. More and more programs are available for them and many children with disabilities already participate in physical activities and youth sports programs. From fun to fitness, the benefits for them are the same as for other children.

One of Evans' children, Elena, a patient at the Twin Cities Shriners Hospital in Minneapolis, has prostheses, or artificial legs. For her, especially, participation in sports has given her added confidence and self-esteem. "It puts her on the same level as everyone else," Evans said.

"It's validating. The value of sports transcends sports."

For some children who are both physically active and use wheelchairs, it is important to remember implications of having limited sensation. For these children, extra vigilance should be given to the need for hydration, proper body positioning and the possibility of unnoticed injuries. Athletic wheelchair users also need to be aware of potential shoulder injuries, and focus on strengthening the muscles in the front and back of the shoulder. Just like their able-bodied friends, athletes with disabilities need to check their equipment before every practice or game.

Shriners Hospitals for Children wants all children to play safe, and grow up strong and healthy.

For more than 80 years, Shriners Hospitals for Children has been a leader in the effort to understand, prevent and treat musculoskeletal problems associated with pediatric orthopaedic conditions and injuries. Shriners was the first hospital network to support the efforts of the U.S. Bone and Joint Decade.

Since the first Shriners Hospital opened in 1922, more than 770,000 children with orthopaedic problems and burn injuries have received expert medical care, at no charge. The Shrine of North America, an international fraternity with more than 434,000 members, founded the hospital system.

If you know a child Shriners Hospitals might be able to help, call 1-800-237-5055 in the U.S.; 1-800-361-7256 in Canada; or visit http://www.shrinershq.org.