Medical Reports: Avoiding Injury

WSVN -- Whether it's shooting hoops kicking goals or just wrestling around, we all know school sports can lead to injury.

Cary Maranges: "Playing soccer she tore her ACL, she got hit and tore her ACL."

Cary Maranges daughter plays soccer for a local youth league, she got hurt preparing to kick off the beginning of the school year.

Tony Milian: "Because kids don't necessarily stay in shape during the summer."

Sports medicine expert Tony Milian says he sees a huge spike in sports injuries come August when kids go back to school to start their fall season.

Tony Milian: "The biggest issue I think to kids getting hurt is the lack of cardiovascular shape."

That's why he urges young athletes to get off the couch while on summer vacation and get moving.

Tony Milian: "Not necessarily go out and join an organized sport, but they can go out and play soccer, basketball, football, and every sport has a benefit to it."

At the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center, coach John Kee developed a 10-week summer camp program, which focuses on a different sport every week.

John Kee: "We teach the kids the history of that sport, and also we teach them proper techniques of stretching before and after activities to prevent injury."

John played semi-professional basketball overseas so he knows the importance of training and conditioning.

John Kee: "Making sure your body is ready to go, you're warmed up instead of just hopping out there on the court or the field and getting right involved in activity."

And that's why the experts say now is the time to take action.

John Kee: "At the very least two to three weeks before you report to practice, they need to go outdoors and least start running, start getting in some kind of cardiovascular shape."

Cary says her daughter is getting back in shape, so she can hit the field for another successful season!

Cary Maranges: "That's the only reason she had surgery was to go back to soccer."

Christine Cruz: "Another important tip to avoiding injury, stay hydrated kids should drink water every day to keep muscles hydrated not just before the big game."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Memorial Hospital Miramar
www.u18sportsmedicine.com

Miramar Youth Enrichment Center
7000 Miramar Parkway
Miramar, FL 33023
Tel: (954) 602-4780