Iowa doctors treating more injuries among young athletes
Share
Updated: 6:43 AM CDT May 7, 2021
Share
Updated: 6:43 AM CDT May 7, 2021
Hide Transcript
Show Transcript
MIXMASTER, IN THE GREEN. ERIC: THE SPRING SPORTS SEASON IS NOW IN FULL SWING. ALYX: KNEW THIS MORNING, DOCTORS SAY THEY’RE SEEING A LOT OF YOUTH ATHLETES WITH INJURIES AND OVERUSED MUSCLES. ERIC: KCCI’S TOMMIE CLARK IS LIVE IN ANKENY AT THE PRAIRIE RIDGE SPORTS COMPLEX WITH SOME ADVICE FOR PARENTS. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? TOMMIE: FIRST OF ALL, THIS COMPLEX HOSTS 3000 TOURNAMENTS EACH YEAR, INCLUDING ON THIS BEAUTIFUL FACE BALL DIAMONDS. THE DOCTORS ARE SAYING THAT NOW THE SPORTS SEASON IS UNDERWAY, THEY ARE SEEING MORE YOUNG ATHLETES IN THEIR OFFICES. THEY ARE TRAINING HARDER, TOO. >> WE ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN MORE ENTRIES IN THE YOUNGER PATIENTS AND ALSO STRESS INJURIES AND THE YOUNGER PATIENTS. TOMMIE: DR. CHRISTOPHER KIM SAYS -- IS AN ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON AT THE IOWA CLINIC AND ALSO WORKS SILENCE FOR SOME METRO SCHOOL SOCCER GAMES. HE SAYS THIS TIME OF YEAR, THERE IS ALWAYS AN UPTICK IN THE INJURIES COMING TO HIS OFFICE, LIKE STRESS FRACTURES AND EVEN ACL TEARS. TO PREVENT THE PAIN, THINK ABOUT PUTTING YOUR KIDS IN DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES, RATHER THAN SPECIALIZING IN ONE SPORT. AND HE SAYS, REMEMBER TO LET THEM REST. >> INCORPORATING A REST PERIOD, A RECOVERY PHASE, IS VERY IMPORTANT, AS PART OF THEIR TRAINING. TRAINING IS IMPORTANT, BUT RECOVERY IS ALSO VERY IMPORTANT, SO TO INCORPORATE DAYS OFF, DAYS TO REST, NOT ONLY PHYSICALLY, BUT MENTALLY TOMMIE: IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT THAT KIDS ARE PRACTICING AND PLAYING ON A FIELD MAINTAINED AT A HIGH LEVEL. COMPLEX LEADER