CBS 2: Chief of Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Discusses Youth Sports Safety

CBS 2 recently interviewed orthopedic surgeon Michael Banffy, MD, chief of Sports Medicine at Cedars-Sinai, about ways to help youth athletes prevent sports-related injuries. 

Banffy told CBS 2 news correspondent Jamie Yuccas that, although the muscles of young people are “a little more supple,” sprains and strains can still be common among youth athletes if they are not “warming up properly” or “wearing the proper equipment.”

He added that tendon injuries are common in baseball or basketball, because “if someone’s throwing a lot, they can have issues with their elbow or with their shoulder.”

Banffy told Yuccas protective equipment for each sport—and each person—is important.

“It’s not something that you necessarily want to pass down if there are siblings,” he said. “It needs to be very individualized for the particular athlete.” 

Banffy told Yuccas parents also should watch for signs of a concussion if their child experiences a blow or jolt to the head or body.

“Obviously, if there’s loss of consciousness, that’s a no-brainer,” he said. “But, you know, even nausea, a little bit of confusion, those very simple signs … probably the kid should not be playing.”

Banffy told Yuccas parents may want to make a doctor’s appointment for their child before they begin a sport.

“There could be medical issues that the provider needs to address, such as asthma, maybe even a heart condition, and then musculoskeletal—if there’s any sort of issue with a joint, if there was a prior injury that wasn’t necessarily addressed, I think those are important to take a look at,” he said.

“And then also, immunizations—if they happen to participate in a sport such as wrestling, where there’s a lot of contact, you want to make sure they’re up to date on everything.”

Click here to watch the entire segment from CBS 2.