Editorial: Youth Sports Injuries - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Youth Sports Injuries

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-23 23:20:04 GMT
    Anyone who takes advantage of one of Alabama's most treasured assets – the elderly – should face swift and steep consequences.  Thanks to a bill passed in the final hours of most recent legislative session that
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  • Tuesday, May 21 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-21 23:20:08 GMT
    The horrific tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma this week bring back all too familiar memories for Alabamians as memories of April 27, 2011 are still fresh in many minds. When Alabamians were in need
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  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    •   

Youth sports injuries are reaching epidemic proportions. 

That's the opinion of Birmingham orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, one of our nation's top sports surgeons.        

His new campaign, STOP sports injuries, aims to combat this epidemic. 

The main focus is injuries caused by overuse: strained shoulders in tennis players, frayed ligaments in soccer players and stress fractures in cross-country runners. 

The overuse comes from a new staple from this generation: year round focus on one sport. 

These injuries were rare in youth sports decades ago when sports specialization was not common place. 

Societal pressures and demands drive the specialization but ultimately we as parents can temper them.   

If a child is injured, they won't be able to play and evidence exists that this excessiveness leads to injury. 

Rest is a good thing in all endeavors, including sports!