Health Tip: Keep High Schoolers Safe During Sports

Sports are a key part of staying fit and enjoying the high school experience, but injuries can occur because teens' bodies are still developing.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons suggests how to reduce the risk of sports-related injuries in teens:

• Make sure your teen has the proper protective equipment, training and conditioning.
• If the teen is out of shape at the start of the season, gradually increase training to build strength and stamina.
• Teens should follow rules of the game and practice good sportsmanship.
• Since playing multiple sports can increase the risk of overuse injury, limit your teen to one sport per season. Make sure the teen takes a break from sports at some point during the year.