When your child wants to play in a recreational sport, you may be happy that his or her journey of a healthy lifestyle is starting at a young age.
You may also be worried about the chance of your child getting injured, especially if he or she wants to play a contact sport like football or hockey.
In the U.S., about 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports, and more than 3.5 million injuries occur each year.
According to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 20,000 children ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for ice hockey-related injuries.
Is checking in ice hockey a bad idea for kid's leagues?
William Meehan, MD, FAAP, discusses the potential dangers of your child's participation in an ice hockey league.
Selected Podcast
Ice Hockey & Kids: What Are the Dangers?
Featuring:
William P. Meehan III, MD, is Director of the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Director of Research for the Brain Injury Center at Boston Children's Hospital, and Associate Director of The Football Players Health Study at Harvard, a multi-million dollar grant to explore the medical issues that affect professional football players.
He graduated from Harvard Medical School where he is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Orthopaedics. Dr. Meehan is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine, and sports medicine. He conducts both clinical and scientific research in the area of sports injuries and concussive brain injury.
His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, the National Football League Players Association, the National Football League and the National Hockey League Alumni Association. He is the 2012 winner of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine's award for Best Overall Research. He has multiple medical and scientific publications and is author of the book Kids, Sports, and Concussion: A Guide for Coaches and Parents.
William Meehan, MD, FAAP
William P. Meehan III, MD, is Director of the Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention, Director of Research for the Brain Injury Center at Boston Children's Hospital, and Associate Director of The Football Players Health Study at Harvard, a multi-million dollar grant to explore the medical issues that affect professional football players.He graduated from Harvard Medical School where he is currently an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Orthopaedics. Dr. Meehan is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric emergency medicine, and sports medicine. He conducts both clinical and scientific research in the area of sports injuries and concussive brain injury.
His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, the National Football League Players Association, the National Football League and the National Hockey League Alumni Association. He is the 2012 winner of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine's award for Best Overall Research. He has multiple medical and scientific publications and is author of the book Kids, Sports, and Concussion: A Guide for Coaches and Parents.