Keeping children active year- round is essential in helping them maintain good health, build muscles and prevent obesity. However, recreational outdoor sports occupy more than just the majority of children\'s free time during the spring and summer months; these activities also demand a significant amount of attention in hospital emergency rooms, doctors\' offices and clinics nationwide, according to estimates from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) on all medically-treated injuries in 2003 for children ages zero through 19.

\"Children often believe they are invincible when participating in familiar sports or recreational activities, but they are actually more susceptible to sustaining sports-related injuries than adults,\" said James H. Beaty, MD, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and second vice-president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). \"While physical activity aids in developing muscles, it is important to remember that children\'s bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing, impacting their coordination and increasing their reaction time.\"

The AAOS\' list of warm-weather recreational activities that cause children to require care for medically-treated injuries, based on data from the USCPSC, include:

-- Playing basketball resulted in 1,066,004 injuries

-- Bicycling caused 832,775 injuries

-- Participating in baseball or softball resulted in 427,372 injuries

-- Trampoline use caused 211,646 injuries

-- Swimming accounted for 117,889 injuries

-- Playing volleyball caused 92,409 injuries

-- In-line skating resulted in 82,903 injuries

-- Tennis accounted for 20,514 injuries

The majority of these injuries are sprains and strains, cuts and bruises, fractures and dislocations of the extremities and trunk.

As part of its Prevent Injuries America!(R) Program, the Academy urges children and adults to follow these important guidelines when engaging in any type of physical activity:

-- Know and abide by the rules of the sport.

-- Wear appropriate protective gear (for example, shin guards for soccer, a hard-shell helmet when facing a baseball pitcher, a helmet for bike riding).

-- Check equipment first and know how to use it (i.e. breakaway bases have proven to be effective in dramatically reducing leg injuries in children).

-- Always warm up before beginning any activity.

-- Avoid playing when very tired or in pain.

-- Take rest breaks and replenish fluids during and after any activity.

Internet users can find additional safety tips and injury prevention information on children\'s sports in the Prevent Injuries America!(R) Program section of the Academy\'s web site, http://www.aaos.org or http://www.orthoinfo.org or call the Academy\'s Public Service line at 800-824- BONES.

An orthopaedic surgeon is a physician with extensive training in the diagnosis and treatment of non-surgical as well as surgical treatment of the musculoskeletal system including bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles and nerves.

With more than 28,000 members, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (http://www.aaos.org) or (http://www.orthoinfo.org), is a not-for- profit organization that provides education programs for orthopaedic surgeons, allied health professionals and the public. An advocate for improved patient care, the Academy is participating in the Bone and Joint Decade (http://www.usbjd.org), the global initiative in the years 2002-2011 to raise awareness of musculoskeletal health to stimulate research and improve people\'s quality of life. President Bush has declared the years 2002-2011 National Bone and Joint Decade in support of these objectives. The AAOS will celebrate its 75th Anniversary at our 2008 Annual Meeting in San Francisco. Visit http://www.aaos.org/75years and be a part of our history!

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
http://www.aaos.org
http://www.usbjd.org
http://www.orthoinfo.org
http://www.aaos.org/75years