Archive for sports medicine
Sports injuries: Why ignoring pain is bad for athletes
“No guts, no glory.” “No pain, no gain.” “Rub some dirt in it.” Sports clichés like these encourage young athletes to push themselves even when their bodies tell them to stop. But sucking it up raises players’ risk of sports injuries. If he could, Dr. Mininder Kocher, chief of the Sports Medicine Division, would erase ... Read More
Five running exercises you can do at home
Unlike a lot of athletes, runners haven’t had to take time off during COVID-19. In fact, a lot of athletes have been running until they can safely return to their sports of choice. Whether you’re a new or seasoned runner, strength training is an important way to reduce your risk of injury. These five running ... Read More
How athletes can stay healthy and injury-free during COVID-19
June is normally a time for student athletes to celebrate a long season of training and competition. But athletes are at loose ends this year with the suspension of sports during COVID-19. “For anyone who identifies as an athlete, it’s almost like they’ve lost a part of themselves,” says Kimberly O’Brien, clinical social worker in ... Read More
What running mistakes lead to injury?
Running outside is a great opportunity to get some fresh air and, because it requires so little equipment, may be accessible when other forms of exercise are not. At a lecture in February, specialists from the Division of Sports Medicine and The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention described how running form – the way ... Read More
Avulsion fracture taps the brakes on a runner’s races
By the time Will Benoit and his parents met Dr. Kristin Whitney, they all had a bad feeling about his left hip. “When she told us Will had a pelvic avulsion fracture, we knew his running season was over,” says his father, Russ. The question was, when would Will run again? From third grade on, ... Read More
Early sports specialization: How to support your child
Early sports specialization — intensive training and competition in a single sport at the expense of other activities — has become the expected norm for young athletes hoping to excel. While parents may believe they’re helping their children achieve future athletic glory, getting too serious too early has produced a rash of “adult” injuries in ... Read More
Ski and snowboard injuries: How to reduce your risk
If you and your family ski or snowboard, you know the joy of breathing fresh winter air while much of the world is cooped up inside. You may also know of the sports’ many benefits, such as developing strength, balance, even emotional resilience. There are plenty of upsides as long as you can keep yourself ... Read More
When athletes push too hard: How to screen and when to refer
With the rise in the number and competitiveness of female athletes, overtraining has become a serious health risk for many young women. Whether it comes from a coach, parent, teammate, or the athlete herself, the pressure to perform drives many young athletes to practice unsafe behaviors in an effort to boost performance. Instead of building ... Read More
Ski and snowboard safety: Helmet guide
They’re large and they mess up your hair. Nonetheless, more than 80 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2017-2018 season. The rise in helmet use is welcome news for specialists in sports medicine and traumatic brain injury prevention, says Jessie Oldham, a postdoctoral researcher who focuses on sport-related concussion. Oldham recently shared ... Read More
Nurturing strength: Tips for parents of female athletes
The drive to succeed can push female athletes to excel at any cost. Female athlete specialist, Dr. Bridget Quinn, talks about what parents and athletes can do to nurture strong bodies and healthy attitudes that will serve the athletes well now and in the future. What pressures are female athletes under? Today’s young athletes are ... Read More