UF Health Sports physicians worked with the Florida High School Athletic Association and the Florida Alliance for Sports Medicine to discuss how to keep teenage athletes safe. A WCJB TV-20 news story highlights how a Southwest Florida parent is using her son's death as an example of why policy needs to change statewide.
Dr. Jason Zaremski, MD, CAQSM, FACSM, FAAPMR recently wrote an article that was published in the Washington Post. The article discusses how parents can protect their children from overuse injuries in sports. From the article:
"What happened this week in my clinic is not unlike most weeks: A young boy and his mother walked in because his elbow hurt after throwing a baseball. I had a strong feeling what was going on with this 9-year-old patient.
Levy County schools will have athletic trainers from the University of Florida on their campuses for practices and games starting this school year. Activity fees and a percentage of gate revenue will fund the program.
The district is implementing a $50 fee for students playing sports – including cheerleading – or participating in band, starting this month. The remainder of the funding will come from a portion of ticket revenue.
Drs. Prine, Smith, and Zaremski as well as Toby Harkins, ATC recently presented at the Emerald Coast of Florida on Youth Safety in Sports Medicine. Topics included Sports Related Concussions, Sudden Cardiac Death in Athletes, Exertional Heat Illness, and Emergency Action Plans. Over 25 coaches from High Schools and Youth Sports Associations from the greater Destin/Niceville/Ft. Walton/Okaloosa region attended.
The UF Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation was recently featured in an online article from the Gainesville Sun for it's focus on concussion education and prevention. The Sports Medicine and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation divisions have begun a lecture series aimed at educating coaches, parents and youth athletes so they can better diagnose and prevent sports-induced concussions.