HOT TOPIC - Youth Baseball Injuries

Spring signifies the start of the youth or little league baseball season. These young players are excited not only because baseball season marks the ending of the formal school year, but also because youth sports give these participants a chance to get outside, enjoy the warmer weather, and compete in the all-American past time - baseball. However, players, coaches, and parents need to be aware of potential injuries that might occur during these activities, and take precautions to insure safety.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that 160,000 individuals in the United States are treated each year for injuries sustained in youth baseball. Fractures to the upper and lower extremity made up a significant number of these reported injuries. These numbers do not include those “minor” injuries that were never reported, or the injuries that were “treated” by the coaches or parents. It is important to remember that complications from fractures or other injuries can be avoided or at least minimized, if medical attention is sought soon after an injury has occurred. If the injury truly is only a minor sprain or strain, one visit to the sports medicine doctor is usually all that is necessary. A parent's time and money are well-spent having this reassurance. Knowing that your child's “twisted ankle” may be only a minor sprain gives the parent a certain peace-of-mind not often present in a self-diagnosis. If the injury is determined to be more severe in nature (such as a fractured bone), then the parent will have provided the best chance for their child to have a full and quick recovery.