Sports and Recreation Injuries Drop 12% in Children Ages 5-14 During Past Decade

Sports and recreation musculoskeletal injuries have declined 12.4% in the US over the past 10 years for children ages 5 to 14 years. However, injuries sustained during football and soccer continue to rise.

"In 2000, the [US Centers for Disease Control] reported the top eight sports and activities responsible for injuries in 5-14 year age group; their treatment cost over $33 billion," according to study author Shital Parikh, MD, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Ohio. "There is an apparent increase in pediatric sports and recreational activityrelated injuries in the US in the last decade."

To identify trends in pediatric sports and recreational injuries in the US over the past decade, the author reviewed National Electronic Injury Surveillance System data on injuries resulting from the eight CDC-identified activities: bicycling, basketball, football, roller sports, playground equipment, baseball/softball, soccer, and trampolines for 2000, 2005, and 2010.

Despite no real change in population in the 5 to 14 age group between 2000 and 2010 (approximately 41 million), Parikh found that musculoskeletal-specific injuries, including broken bones, sprained joints, and torn ligaments, declined 12.4%. In addition, injuries declined in six of the eight sport/activity categories, including bicycle (38.1%), roller sports (20.8%), and trampolines (17.5%). Football and soccer injuries increased by 22.8% and 10.8%, respectively. Injuries in sport groups classified as recreational (bike, roller sports, trampoline, and playground) decreased by 24.9%, while ball or organized sport activity injuries increased 5.5%.

"These [outcomes] may refl ect the changing pattern of childhood activities in the US as organized sports are encouraged, often at the cost of free play," The author observed. The specific decrease in bicycle, roller sport, and trampoline injuries "may refl ect the effi cacy of preventive programs that focus on helmet use, adult supervision, protective gear and education," he added.

According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, statesand localities began adopting helmet laws for children under 18 years in 1987. In addition, helmet safety campaigns were launched by federal health agencies and national nonprofit health organizations. The AAOS published position statements recommending helmet use when riding a motorcycle or bicycle, skiing and/or participating in roller sports. The AAOS position statement on Trampolines and Trampoline Safety recommends that children not use trampolines for unsupervised recreational activity.

In 2010, the AAOS joined seven other health advocacy organizations in supporting the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine's (AOSSM) STOP Sports Injuries Campaign. STOP stands for Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention in youth sports. The goal of the program is to curb the number of youth injuries from overuse and trauma in all sports. The campaign offers sport-specifi c resources for athletes, parents, coaches, and healthcare providers, including tip sheets, videos, podcasts, posters, community presentations, and a coaches curriculum. All are available at the interactive website: STOPSportsInjuries.org.

"The trend of childhood injuries needs to be better understood to promote safe play to counter the increase in childhood obesity, physical inactivity and emotional disturbances in children, all of which are on the rise in the US," Parikh concluded.