My child gets banged up all the time playing sports. How do I know when to bring him/her to the doctor?

Your child should be brought to see a physician if he or she has limited range of motion in a joint when compared to the uninvolved side, the inability to walk or use the injured extremity, or persistent pain or swelling which does not resolve within 24 hours - for example, if he or she can't straighten or bend the knee as much as the opposite side. What may appear to be a minor ligament strain could be something more serious, such as a broken bone.

My child has asthma and he/she wants to participate in sports. Is it safe?

Yes, if caution is observed, it is safe and even helpful for children with asthma to participate in athletic activity. Certain sports such as swimming (moisture helps asthma) may be safer and more beneficial than others. Coaches, trainers, and teachers should all be informed about a child's condition and medications should be readily available. Primary care physicians should be aware of those sports in which an asthmatic child is participating, and should follow the child regularly before, during and after a sports season. Additionally, exercise has been shown to decrease the severity of asthma in children.

My child got hurt in a game. When is it safe for him/her to go back to sports?

Return to sport is dependent on the type and degree of injury, and must be assessed on an individual basis. If a child is removed from a game because of an acute injury, such as a twisted ankle or a concussion, he or she should be examined by a doctor, preferably, one with experience in treating sports injuries in young athletes. Even when a physician clears a child to return to sport, certain basic guidelines should hold. No child should be allowed to return to sports if there is any persistent limitation of motion, swelling, or significant pain. Concussions and neck injuries are potentially very serious injuries and should be treated with extra caution.

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What is a concussion?

A: A concussion is an injury, which occurs when any force is transmitted through the head to the brain. The brain is normally cushioned in a fluid bath inside the protective skull. Any impact to the head causes the brain to shake inside of the skull and results in a temporary malfunction. Signs and symptoms of a concussion include: loss of consciousness, amnesia, confusion, lightheadedness, nausea, headaches, dizziness, vomiting and others. A child who is removed from a game for a head injury must not be allowed to return to competition until he, or she, is examined by a physician.

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