Jim Liebelt's Youth Culture Watch

Which High School Sports Cause Kids the Most Injuries?

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

Fewer high school athletes are getting hurt playing sports, but those who do are more likely to suffer severe injuries that require surgery or a timeout from their chosen sport, new research shows.

Which teens are most at risk? Those who participate in football, girls' soccer and boys' wrestling, the study authors found. Knee and ankle sprains and strains, along with head injuries such as concussions, were the most common injuries seen.

Exactly why injuries are becoming more severe isn't fully understood, but having kids specialize in sports too early may play a role. That can lead to an increase in overuse injuries, overtraining and burnout, said study co-author Jordan Pizzarro, a medical student at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, in Washington, D.C.

For the study, the researchers tapped into 2015 to 2019 injury data from 100 high schools. These schools have athletic trainers who report injuries for five boys' and four girls' sports.

Overall, there were 15,531 injuries that occurred during 6.8 million athletic exposures. (An athletic exposure is defined as one athlete participating in one practice or competition during which an injury could potentially occur.) This equals an overall rate of nearly 2.3 injuries per 1,000 athletic exposures, which can be extrapolated to 5.2 million sports-related injuries among high schoolers nationally.

Most injuries took place during games. Overall, the injury rate was higher in boys' sports compared to girls' sports, and 3.5% of all injuries were fractures, and these mainly occurred in boys' baseball, basketball and football. Overall, just over 6% of injuries — most often from wrestling, girls' basketball and boys' baseball — required surgery.

In total, 39% of sports injuries resulted in athletes taking less than one week off from their sport, while 34% of injuries required taking up to three weeks off to heal. Seven percent of injuries required athletes to take more than three weeks off to heal, and nearly 21% of injuries led to medical disqualification for the season or career.

Still, the new data isn't a reason for kids to stop playing sports.

"Sports build endurance and stamina and help with growth and maturity," Pizzarro said. Instead, parents should talk to the school or coach about pre-season training programs that may help stave off injuries among young athletes.

The new research was scheduled for presentation at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting, held in Las Vegas from March 7 to 11. Research presented at medical conferences should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/sports-injuries-2659479745.html

Three or More Concussions Linked with Worse Brain Function in Later Life

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

Experiencing three or more concussions is linked with worsened brain function in later life, according to major new research.

The study -- the largest of its kind -- also found having just one moderate-to-severe concussion, or traumatic brain injury (TBI), can have a long-term impact on brain function, including memory.

Led by teams at the University of Oxford and the University of Exeter, the research included data from more than 15,000 participants of the online PROTECT study, who were aged between 50 and 90 and based in the UK. They reported the severity and frequency of concussions they had experienced throughout their lives and completed annual, computerized tests for brain function.

Published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, the paper found that people who reported three or more concussions had significantly worse cognitive function, which got successively worse with each subsequent concussion after that. Attention and completion of complex tasks were particularly affected.

Lead investigator Dr. Vanessa Raymont, from the University of Oxford, said: "We know that head injuries are a major risk factor for dementia, and this large-scale study gives the greatest detail to date on a stark finding -- the more times you injure your brain in life, the worse your brain function could be as you age.

"Our research indicates that people who have experienced three or more even mild episodes of concussion should be counseled on whether to continue high-risk activities. We should also encourage organizations operating in areas where head impact is more likely to consider how they can protect their athletes or employees."

The team found that participants who reported three episodes of even mild concussion throughout their lives had significantly worse attention and ability to complete complex tasks. Those who had four or more mild concussion episodes also showed worsened processing speed and working memory. Each additional reported concussion was linked to progressively worse cognitive function.

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/01/230130213948.htm

Basketball Better for Building Stronger Bones in Youth Athletes Than Track

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by StudyFinds.

According to a recent study, youth athletes who play multidirectional sports like basketball, instead of unidirectional sports like track, are able to build stronger bones that decrease their risk of bone injury in adulthood.

The findings are in line with other recommendations that say that younger children should play a variety of sports that require them to move in various directions, then wait until they’re older to switch to a sport that they want to hone in on. By then, they’re more likely to have a stronger structural foundation, which supports less risk of stress injury.

“There is a common misperception that kids need to specialize in a single sport to succeed at higher levels. However, recent data indicate that athletes who specialize at a young age are at a greater risk of an overuse injury and are less likely to progress to higher levels of competition,” says Stuart Warden, associate dean for research and Chancellor’s Professor in the Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences, in a statement.

In this study, Warden and team used high-resolution imaging to assess the shin bone by the ankle and bones in the feet, where bone stress injuries often are found in runners. They discovered that athletes who did running as well as multidirectional sports had 10-20% stronger bones than those who just ran.

Source: StudyFinds
https://studyfinds.org/basketball-bone-strength-children-track/

Sports Like Soccer, Basketball Better for Young Athletes' Bone Health Than Running Alone

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceDaily.

Young athletes who participate in multidirectional sports instead of specializing in a unidirectional sport like running can build stronger bones that may be at less risk for bone injuries as adults, according to a new study from Indiana University researchers.

Published in the American College of Sports Medicine's Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, the study examined Division I and II female cross-country runners, who often experience bone stress injuries like stress fractures. The researchers found that athletes who ran and participated in sports that require movement in many directions -- such as basketball or soccer -- when younger had better bone structure and strength than those who solely ran, swam, or cycled.

As a result, the study's findings support recommendations that athletes delay specialization in running and play multi-directional sports when younger to build a more robust skeleton -- and potentially prevent bone stress injuries.

"Our research shows that the runners who played multidirectional sports when younger had stronger bones as collegiate athletes, which puts them at less risk for bone stress injuries, including stress fractures," said Stuart Warden, associate dean for research and Chancellor's Professor in the IU School of Health and Human Sciences at IUPUI. "We want to ensure people have better, stronger bones as they grow, become adolescents, and go through life. Specializing in one sport at too young of an age means they are more likely to get injured and not make it at the collegiate and professional levels."

Source: ScienceDaily
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/10/221011183910.htm

Concussion Aftermath Could Drag Down Teens' Grades

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

Efforts to prevent concussions from happening at school or in school-related sports activities may help keep teens from lagging behind in their academics.

In a new study, researchers at the University of Washington found that those who had a recent concussion could be 25% more likely than classmates to be in poor academic standing.

"History of concussion was significantly associated with poor academic standing and experiencing multiple concussions could be particularly harmful on student outcomes," according to study author Julian Takagi-Stewart, of Harborview Injury Prevention & Research Center in Seattle, and colleagues.

About 2 million U.S. youth suffer a concussion each year. The researchers wanted to learn whether there was a link between a history of these temporary brain injuries and teens' academic standing.

For the study, they analyzed data on more than 10,000 teens who were part of the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System Survey, which monitors health risks among U.S. students.

In all, about 15% of high school students reported having had at least one sports and activity-related concussion during the previous year.

In all, 79% of students said they were in good academic standing, the findings showed.

Having at least one concussion in the past year was linked with a 25% higher risk of poor academic standing. This link was stronger for students with repeated concussions, according to the report published online Sept. 12 in the journal Injury Prevention.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/b-9-14-concussion-aftermath-could-drag-down-a-teens-grades-2658197510.html

Playing Football, Hockey in High School Ups Odds for Stimulant Abuse

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

Taking part in certain sports in high school may lead to misuse of prescription stimulants in the years after graduation, a new study finds.

It reported that high school seniors who play contact sports are 50% more likely to abuse prescription stimulants in their 20s. Seniors who take part in any sport are more likely than those who don't to abuse these drugs, said lead author Philip Veliz, an associate research professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing.

Seniors who participate in noncontact sports are less likely to abuse prescription opioids over the next decade but more likely to abuse stimulants than nonathletes, the study found.

For the nationwide study, the researchers collected data on more than 4,770 12th-graders between 2006 and 2017. Students were followed for 10 years.

The investigators looked at contact sports, such as football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and wrestling. They also looked at semi-contact sports, including baseball, basketball, field hockey, and soccer, and noncontact sports such as cross country, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, track, volleyball, and weightlifting.

They found that:

• In all, 31% of high school seniors misused prescription drugs at least once.
• Among those in contact sports, 11% of seniors misused prescription stimulants.
• The rate of misuse rose to 18% when the participants were 20 and 21 years of age.

The findings were published online in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/b-8-15-playing-football-hockey-in-high-school-ups-odds-for-stimulant-abuse-2657841185.html

Getting Young Athletes Ready for a New School Year

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by HealthDay.

As a new school year begins, many students return to their favorite sports or try something new.

Encouraging kids to make physical activity part of their lives has lifelong benefits, said Dr. Theodore Shybut, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery and sports medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

Shybut offered some tips for getting children ready to start fall sports or any physical activities at any age. His advice comes at a time when many youngsters may be losing interest in organized sports.

Shybut recommends giving the youngest kids opportunities to explore many activities to see what they like best. Create an environment in which a child feels encouraged to be active with routine free play at home, family walks, or trying out the latest exercise trend.

"Keep it fun and interesting. The goal is to cement the idea of exercise as an enjoyable and healthy habit," Shybut said in a college news release. "Once your child latches onto something they like, then you can then work together to begin mastering the fundamentals of the activity they choose to pursue in the long term."

Kids and teens who have already participated in organized sports at school or in community leagues should be given opportunities to stay active during their off-seasons. Appropriate drills or training camps can get them ready for a new season and help prevent injury.

In hot regions, the need to beat the heat is key.

"It's important for athletes to adjust to heat and sun exposure," Shybut said. "Even a week of regular exercise before group training sessions begin can be beneficial. Additionally, ensuring young athletes are properly hydrated is vital to preventing serious heat-related illnesses."

Source: HealthDay
https://consumer.healthday.com/b-8-7-getting-young-athletes-ready-for-a-new-school-year-2657801290.html

Sports, Not Screens: The Key to Happier, Healthier Children

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

Whether it's sports practice, music lessons, or a casual catch-up with friends, when children are involved in after-school activities, they're more likely to feel happier and healthier than their counterparts who are glued to a screen.

In a new study conducted by the University of South Australia and the Department for Education, researchers found that children's well-being is heightened when they participate in extra-curricular activities, yet lowered when they spent time on social media or playing video games.

Published in BMC Pediatrics, the study analyzed data from 61,759 school students in years 4 to 9, assessing the average number of days per week children participated in after-school activities (3–6 pm), and measured these against well-being factors—happiness, sadness, worry, engagement, perseverance, optimism, emotion regulation, and life satisfaction.

It found that most students watched TV about four days of the school week and spent time on social media about three days of the week.

Lead researcher, UniSA's Dr. Rosa Virgara says the research highlights an acute need to encourage children to participate in activities other than screens.

"Helping children develop a good sense of personal well-being is paramount in today's uncertain environment," Dr. Virgara says.

"This is especially important for primary school-aged children as they're learning about the challenges and risks that full-time school can present; but it's equally important for teenagers who are facing a range of physical, social, and emotional changes. Our study highlights how some out-of-school activities can boost children's well-being, while others—particularly screens—can chip away at their mental and physical health.

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-sports-screens-key-happier-healthier.html

Team Sports Linked to Fewer Mental Health Difficulties for Kids

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by MedicalXpress.

A large-scale study of U.S. children and adolescents has found that participation in a team sport is associated with fewer mental health difficulties, but that kids who are exclusively involved in an individual sport—such as tennis or wrestling—may face greater mental health difficulties than kids who do no sports at all. Matt Hoffmann of California State University, U.S., and colleagues presented these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

Previous research has consistently suggested that youth participation in organized sports might help protect against mental health difficulties. However, some studies have linked youth sports participation to worse mental health, so more detailed research is needed to determine which approaches to sports might be most beneficial.

To shed new light on the subject, Hoffmann and colleagues analyzed data on the sports habits and mental health of 11,235 kids aged 9 to 13. Parents and guardians reported on several aspects of the children's mental health by filling out a form known as the Child Behavior Checklist. The researchers looked for any associations between the mental health data and the kids' sports habits, while also accounting for other factors that might impact mental health, such as household income and overall physical activity.

In line with the researchers' expectations, the analysis showed that kids involved in team sports were less likely to have signs of anxiety, depression, withdrawal, social problems, and attention problems.

The researchers also expected individual sports to be associated with fewer mental health difficulties, even if to a lesser extent than for team sports. However, they instead found that children who exclusively played individual sports tended to have greater mental health difficulties than those who did not play sports at all. Nonetheless, for female kids, participation in both team and individual sports was associated with a lower likelihood of rule-breaking behavior than non-sports participation.

Source: MedicalXpress
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-06-team-sports-linked-mental-health.html

If You've Had a 'Mild' Concussion, You Could Still Have Symptoms Years Later

The following is excerpted from an online article posted by ScienceAlert.

Many people will experience a concussion at some point during their life – whether that's from a contact sport or just an unfortunate fall. But even a 'mild' version of this injury can cause long-term health impacts for a portion of those who experience it.

A new study from a team of researchers across New Zealand has found that up to eight years later, adults who had experienced a mild concussion reported more ongoing symptoms, depression, and problems with work than those who never had one.

This is not to say that all people who experience a concussion – also called a mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) – will have ongoing symptoms, however, it highlights that concussion can be a really life-altering event for those people who don't just get better after a couple of weeks.

"It is estimated that more than 10 million people experience a TBI each year, with 70–95 percent of these being classified as mild. TBI has widespread impacts, and whilst the effects of moderate and severe TBI are well documented, much less is known about the long-term outcomes of mild TBI," the researchers – led by University of Waikato psychology researcher Nicola Starkey – wrote in their new paper.

"Over a third (36 percent) of the participants with mild TBI reported that they thought they were still affected by the brain injury they had 8-years ago."

Unsurprisingly, those who'd had a concussion reported more problems. What is surprising, however, is just how long these symptoms can stick around for – a third of the participants believed they were still impacted by their concussion eight years later. These long-term symptoms weren't mild either, with the questionnaires suggesting some people had PTSD or anxiety, issues with work, and post-concussion syndrome.

The worst outcomes seemed to be in women, particularly those who'd had multiple concussions.

Source: ScienceAlert
https://www.sciencealert.com/study-finds-some-people-with-mild-concussion-are-still-still-experiencing-symptoms-eight-years-later