Parents talk sports injuries in young athletes

Bainbridge can boast a hefty share of trophies and titles earned on island fields and courts.

But sometimes, these athletic triumphs come at a price.

Parents are invited to discuss the topic of sports injuries at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 in the Bainbridge High School commons. "Staying in the Game: Preventing sports injuries among young athletes" will host board-certified sports medicine specialist Dr. Gregory Duff. The event is free.

It's not an event to trash on sports, rather, an opportunity to become knowledgeable about a part of the game that doesn't get discussed as much as it should.

"Injuries are an unavoidable part of an active life and parents need to be educated on what to look for and how to react to their children's injuries," said Champ Yarbrough, president of the Bainbridge Boys Lacrosse Club, the organization presenting the event.

"Parents worry about children getting seriously injured in contact sports like lacrosse and football, but speaking from experience, injuries happen in every sport," he added.

For example, Yarbrough's own children have taken some blows while playing lacrosse and football, but they have also a suffered a broken elbow from horseback riding and an ankle injury from track.

Yarbrough notes that Duff came in pretty handy when such sports injuries arose with his own children.

"The appropriate diagnosis and treatment of sports-related injuries has changed so much since most of us parents played sports," Yarbrough said. "It is important for us to get up-to-date, accurate information so we can make informed decisions regarding our children's health and safety so they can enjoy playing the sports they love for as long as possible."

Contact Bainbridge Island Review Staff Writer Richard D. Oxley at roxley@bainbridgereview.com or (206) 842-6613.

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