Health & Safety

Overuse running injuries such as patellofemoral pain syndrome (so-called "runner's knee"), and Achilles tendonitis may have more to do with weakened hip muscles than the sheer number of miles an athlete runs.

Symptoms of impending heat illness include chills, nausea, headache, disorientation, and muscle cramping.

If it was up to Dr. Lester Mayers, young athletes who suffer sports concussions would be not be allowed to return to play (RTP) for 4 to 6 weeks after injury, a significant departure from current concussion guidelines which allow RTP 1 to 2 weeks after an athlete's concussion signs and symptoms clear, both at rest and during exercise.

Studies show that a new way of stretching (dynamic stretching) increases power, flexibility and range of motion, and may reduce injuries while the kind of stretching routine most of us have been doing since we were in grade school (holding a stretch for 20 or 30 seconds, supposedly to prepare muscles for exercise, or static stretching) not only fails to do what it is supposed to do but may actually weaken muscles and hurt athletic performance.

That a sports concussions have an adverse short-term effect on cognitive functioning has long been known.  But two recent studies add to a growing body of evidence that the effects of concussions may last for many months and in some cases years.

A new survey reveals parents do not take advantage of some inexpensive protective sports gear, such as mouth guards, in many kids' sports. Since many oral sports injuries can be prevented by wearing mouth guards, why aren't more parents and kids getting the message?

As many as 9 out of 10 of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented by wearing protective eyewear.  Here are some tips on buying protective goggles for your child.

Through its EyeSmart^TM campaign the American Academy of Ophthalmology reminds the public that 40,000 people suffer from eye injuries related to sports every year so it is important for athletes to wear appropriate, sport-specific protective eyewear properly fitted by an eye care professional.