IN North Allegheny Spring 2018 | Page 9

A Winning Game Plan for Youth Sports Important information for parents from the experts at UPMC Sports Medicine. Youth athletes are prone to a number of common injuries, including: • Knee injuries • Fractures and dislocations • Shin splints • Achilles tendon injuries • Sprains and strains • Overuse injuries Playing year-round, on multiple teams, or focusing on one sport increases the risk of injury. To help prevent injury: • Don’t ignore pain. Do not let your child play through pain. It may be due to an underlying condition that could result in further injury if ignored. • Focus on nutrition. Many young athletes compete after school making lunch an essential fuel source for competition. Pack healthy snacks and make sure your child is hydrating well before practice or a game. • Take a break! Avoid having your child play only the same sport all year-round to give the body a chance to rest and recover. • Train properly. Consult an expert on injury prevention exercises to ensure players’ safety throughout the season. UPMCSportsMedicine.com 1-855-93-SPORT (77678) SPORTS506981 SR/RO 02/18