The pediatrician and sports medicine

Abstract

This issue of Pediatrics presents an important communication on injuries related to the participation in high school sports programs (p. 465). Several points made by the authors are of interest. The frequency of injury and the large number of youth participating (5½ million high school athletes participating in the United States during the school year) clearly indicated that sports-related injuries can be expected to be frequently encountered in the pediatrician's office. The study of Garrick and Requa may prompt us to thoughtfully consider various aspects of sports activities of our patients and their families. It is an appropriate time to identify the sports medicine-related aspects of pediatric practice and determine how the pediatrician can best meet the medical needs of the many young athletes under his or her care.