04
February
2018
|
07:00 AM
America/New_York

Preventing Sports Injuries

Shelli Sonstein hosts Joshua S. Dines, MD, sports medicine surgeon at HSS, on Q104.3 during an episode of 'Sonstein Sessions' to discuss sports injuries in kids.

Dr. Dines explains that there are many factors contributing to the rise in sports injuries in children and adolescents including: specialization in the same sport year-round and playing on multiple teams simultaneously.

According to Dr. Dines, it's important to find a balance between playing enough to stay in shape and prevent injury, and playing too much and causing injury.

He also explains the kinetic chain and how you are only as strong as the weakest link. "If your back breaks down, you start altering your motions [while pitching] and that can cause a breakdown in your elbow or shoulder," he said. "Kids and parents need to be aware of this… and rest and listen to your body. If it hurts, stop."

Dr. Dines often puts things into perspective for young athletes who may be afraid to miss a game and has found that patient (and parent) education is very important.

He notes that some studies have shown that if a young athlete undergoes an ACL reconstruction in high school, he or she has a 50 percent chance of injuring the same or other knee in college. "They may have pre-disposing risk factors, so even if you just treat the ACL and get them back to play, they're still going to have those same risk factors."

The key is working with good physical therapists who can help address those other problems.

Listen to the full segment at iHeart.com. This aired on February 4, 2018.