Keeping Young Athletes Safe and in the Game

GLOVERSVILLE, NY (11/23/2011)(readMedia)-- Nathan Littauer Hospital Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Team announced today a free seminar aimed at "keeping kids and safe and in the game". "Preventing Sports Injuries in Young Athletes" will be held November 30, 2011 at the Johnstown Holiday Inn, 308 Comrie Avenue Johnstown, NY. The seminar is aimed at getting the word out to parents, coaches, healthcare workers and athletes themselves about the risks of Overuse Injuries. The seminar will also include new information about sports concussions and heat-related illness. On hand will be Physicians, injured athletes, Athletic Directors and Physical Therapists. The hospital started this campaign in conjunction with STOP Sports Injury about 14 months ago. As such, it is the first of its kind in upstate New York and part of the hospital's ongoing effort to educate the community about the growing epidemic of overuse injuries and trauma among young athletes. This is the second seminar of its kind since Nathan Littauer joined forces with STOP Sports injuries, a national organization dedicated to sports injury and trauma prevention for kids.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Gerald Ortiz, a leading orthopedic surgeon. He will be speaking about "Sports medicine: A spotlight on the young athlete and ligament injuries." Also new this year is an Athletic Director's Round Table: Safeguarding the Young Athlete representing five school districts. "I would think any parent with a child in athletics would want to hear from this group of professionals." said hospital spokesperson, Cheryl McGrattan. She added, "It will be a rare opportunity to hear what local school districts are doing to keep kids safe while they are participating in sports. This is a good time to hold an event like this as many students start gearing up for spring and summer sports participation now." She concluded, "Also many winter athletes are particularly vulnerable to injury and dehydration".

The Athletic Directors Round Table will feature the following speakers and the following topics: Adam Barnhart, Athletic Director at Broadalbin Perth Schools. Topic: How an effective warm up affects performance and injury prevention. Eileen Rovito, Athletic Director at Mayfield Schools. Topic: A review of the NYS Public HS Athletic Association concussion guidelines. Mike DeMagistris, Athletic Director at Gloversville Schools. Topic: The use of the Head Impact Telemetry System in High School Sports.Charles Karker, Athletic Director at Fort Plain Schools. Ron Smith, Athletic Director at Amsterdam Schools. Topic: A focus on heat related illness during sports.

Last year, Nathan Littauer Hospital was one of the first hospitals to join a nationwide movement to address the critical issue of safe sports participation. As a participating STOP Sports Injury Medical Institution Nathan Littauer has been working in the region to help prevent athletic overuse injuries and trauma injuries.

William Oates, Director of the Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Team states, "Any one who comes to this seminar will leave with knowledge and practical information to keep you athletes safe and in the game." He added, "Our first conference, held in September of '10, was a huge success with 120 people in attendance and a great amount of positive feedback. "

"Preventing Sports Injuries in Young Athletes" will be held November 30, 2011 at the Johnstown Holiday Inn, 308 Comrie Avenue Johnstown., NY. Registration and refreshments start at 6:00pm with the program starting at 6:30pm. The program will be about 1.5 hours long. The event is free and open to the public. Anyone who is interested in attending the seminar is encouraged to RSVP by calling 773-5533 or 773-5540 or by emailing stopsportsinjuries@nlh.org.

Compelling Statistics on a Growing Epidemic:

There is a growing epidemic of preventable youth sports injuries that are dismantling kids' athletic hopes and dreams at an early age. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), participation in organized sports is on the rise. Nearly 30 million children and adolescents participate in youth sports in the United States. This increase in play has led to some other startling statistics about injuries among America's young athletes. Sports injuries can cause permanent damage and increase the chances of surgeries and arthritis later in life. If an injury does occur, early identification and proper treatment is the key to a successful recovery.

• High school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries and 500,000 doctor visits and 30,000 hospitalizations each year.1
• Children ages 5 to 14 account for nearly 40 percent of all sports-related injuries treated in hospitals. On average the rate and severity of injury increases with a child's age.2
• Injuries associated with participation in sports and recreational activities account for 21 percent of all traumatic brain injuries among children in the United States.2
• According to the CDC, more than half of all sports injuries in children are preventable.

Armed with the correct information and tools, today's youth athletes can remain healthy, play safe, and stay in the game for life.

References:

1. JS Powell, KD Barber Foss, 1999. Injury patterns in selected high school sports: a review of the 1995-1997 seasons.

J Athl Train. 34: 277-84.

2 Preserving the Future of Sport: From Prevention to Treatment of Youth Overuse Sports Injuries.

AOSSM 2009 Annual Meeting Pre-Conference Program. Keystone, Colorado

http://stopsportsinjuries.reingoldweb.com/files/pdf/Option-B.pdf

*American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, AAOS Now, 2009

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About STOP Sports Injuries: More information can be found at: http://www.stopsportsinjuries.org/

About Nathan Littauer: Nathan Littauer Hospital and Nursing Home is a full-service, 74 bed acute care hospital with an 84 bed skilled nursing home located in Gloversville, NY. Littauer provides the finest in state-of-the-art technology and a caring, dedicated staff of health care professionals. Over the years, the hospital has expanded its services in order offer health care that is comprehensive, accessible, and relevant to the needs of the communities we serve. The Littauer medical staff brings amazing technical expertise and competence to the residents of Fulton County and the surrounding communities.