Injured youngsters need to stay involved.

• Position: Sports injuries - Sports Medicine

An estimated 12,000,000 athletes between the ages of five and 22 suffer sports-related injuries annually, leading to 20,000,000 lost days of school and approximately $33,000,000,000 spent on health care in the U.S. alone. Yet, what do we know about the health-related quality of life in these injured athletes? According to a study by the National Athletic Trainers' Association, Dallas, Texas, developing an understanding of the overall effects of injury in adolescents is important for several reasons. First, injuries from sports participation may lead to a severe drop in physical activity. Second, poorly managed injuries may lead to osteoarthritis and other significant and disabling long-term health problems. Lastly, the consequences of injury may influence areas of the adolescent's life outside of athletic activities.

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The study reveals that injuries among adolescent athletes, as expected, affect physical functioning and pain; however, the study also found that functioning on other quality-of-life measures also decreases, suggesting the need to assess injured athletes' minds, as well as their bodies.

"By incorporating patient self-report measures, we can better assess the effects of injuries across a broad spectrum of health-related criteria, says the study's lead author, Tamara McLeod. "This approach will help us have a more holistic understanding of life quality after injuries occur."

The authors also recommend that parents, coaches, athletic trainers, and others:

* Have injured athletes stay involved with their teams in some manner (watching practices...