With summer coming to a close, parents are getting ready for their children to head back into the classroom. Dr. Daniel Green, Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon, offers a few tips for parents to make sure their children remain injury free and ready to learn.
1. Make sure backpacks have 2 well-padded straps and weigh a maximum of 15% of the child’s body weight.
2. Children should see their physician if old injuries have not completely healed or continue to cause complaints. Parents should have a low threshold to seek professional advice for back, hip, knee and ankle pain.
3. Double check athletic shoes for fit and wear.
4. Is your child ready for sports? Can they run without pain or a limp? Can they jump up and down on one foot without pain and with good strength and coordination? If not they may have an injury that needs attention and they may be at risk for a sports injury.
Dr. Daniel Green specializes in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery. He is currently director of the pediatric sports program for the Division of Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at HSS. Dr. Green’s focus is to provide the finest, most advanced orthopedic care available, with expertise in areas such as pediatric sports injuries, pediatric fractures, and dislocations.
