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The Children's Hospital Sports Medicine Experts Share Tips Related to Winter Sports Injuries and Concussion Prevention Throughout the Winter Olympic Games

As many young adults prepare to perform extreme feats in the Winter Olympic Games, many children and teens will watch and try to imitate these competitors on the slopes and ice. Experts from The Children's Hospital in Denver offer a pediatric perspective on proper training tips as well as practical advice on how parents can recognize symptoms of and help to prevent concussions and sports injuries as awareness of these issues increases during the Winter Olympic Games. The Children's Hospital's sports medicine experts include:

Brooke Pengel, M.D.: medical director of the sports medicine program at The Children's Hospital and fellowship director for Pediatric Sports Medicine. Specializing in concussions and orthopedics, Dr. Pengel has been instrumental in creating a quality service line dedicated to the comprehensive care of the school-aged athlete. During the last few years, this program has experienced unprecedented growth in clinical volume and staff. The sports medicine team is dedicated to excellence in clinical care and community education and service. In 2009, Dr. Pengel was recognized as a 5280 Magazine "Top Doctor" in sports medicine.

Frank Chang, M.D.: director of orthopedic surgery, medical director of the Hospital Sports Program (HSP), co-founder and co-medical director of the Center for Gait and Movement Analysis (CGMA) (or Gait Lab). Dr. Chang specializes in orthopedic surgery. His interest in computerized gait analysis started about 18 years ago, after observing how the Olympic Freestyle Ski Team was using technology to assist in understanding complex motions in athletes. On the weekends for the past 23 years, he has volunteered as medical director of The Children's Hospital's HSP, providing kids with guidance related to orthopedic issues, treatment, care in the event of injuries and encouragement on the slopes.

John Polousky, M.D.: surgical director of sports medicine at The Children's Hospital. Dr. Polousky is a regional expert in pediatric orthopedic knee surgery and specializes in ACL reconstruction in adolescents and children; cartilage injuries; and in minimally invasive surgery of the knee, shoulder and elbow.

Each one of these experts can speak to all aspects of winter sports and injuries including:

• More than a quarter million children each year are injured while participating in winter sports in the United States (Safe Kids USA. The Safe Kids Denver Metro Coalition is led by The Children's Hospital.)
• In 2004, more than 56,000 children ages 5 to 14 were taken to emergency rooms for injuries resulting from winter sports, including approximately 21,000 from snowboarding; 12,000 from sledding; 11,000 from skiing; 11,000 from ice skating; and 1,500 from snowmobile accidents (Safe Kids USA)
• Interpreting the new concussion guidelines: http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/43/Suppl_1/i76.full.pdf+html
• Training tips and guidelines: six weeks before the season, young athletes should begin exercising three to five times per week, with a program that emphasizes general fitness (a combination of appropriate strength, endurance, flexibility, balance and body composition)
• The growing trend of treating the whole athlete (from education to injury prevention to nutrition to timely and appropriate response)
• Nutrition: the need for basic nutrition and how/why sports supplements are used or should not be used is very critical for youth athletes

The Center for Gait and Movement Analysis

The Center for Gait and Movement Analysis (CGMA) at The Children's Hospital is the region's first and one of only about 40 in the country that provides a comprehensive analysis of gait and movement for patients with neuromuscular disorders. CGMA is also one of the few clinics at the Children's Hospital that treats both child and adult patients. An Accredited Motion Laboratory, CGMA uses state-of-the-art computer and video technology to analyze a child's limb and body movement and his muscle activity as he walks or moves freely in a normal environment. Children's experts - including physical therapists, kinesiologists, orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists and engineers - review the reports and make a recommendation for care of a child. While this might mean surgery for some patients, for others the treatment plan recommended can include physical therapy, medications or modifications to any orthotic or prosthetic being used.

The Children's Hospital and the Sports Medicine Program for Young Athletes

The Children's Hospital has the only sports medicine program in Colorado focused solely on the care of young athletes. The Children's Hospital's medical team has a unique expertise in the care of this age group, as the physicians have specialty training and certification in pediatric sports medicine. (Only about 150 pediatricians in the country are fellowship trained and board certified in pediatric sports medicine.) Additional information can be found at http://www.thechildrenshospital.org/conditions/sports/index.aspx.

About the Children's Hospital

The Children's Hospital has defined and delivered pediatric healthcare excellence for more than 100 years. Founded in 1908, The Children's Hospital is a leading pediatric network entirely devoted to the health and wellbeing of children. Continually recognized as one of the nation's outstanding hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, The Children's Hospital is known both for its nationally and internationally recognized medical, research and education programs as well as the full spectrum of everyday care for kids throughout Colorado and surrounding states. With more than 1,000 healthcare professionals representing the full spectrum of pediatric specialties, The Children's Hospital network of care includes its main campus, sixteen Children's Care Centers and more than 400 outreach clinics. For more information, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org.

The Children's Hospital
Natalie Goldstein, 303-890-8314
or
GroundFloor Media
Amanda Brannum, 303-865-8143