42 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com SEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 2017 - American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons DON’T LET YOUR CHILD RETURN TO PLAY TOO EARLY. Brookhart says, “Sometimes when athletes return to play too soon after an injury, they compensate by using other mus- cles, risking a secondary injury that makes it even worse." Most importantly, a physician should make the call. Your child may feel ready to play, but his or her body might not be ready. "It's always important to talk to a physician before returning to play.  The school trainer is often the first contact, which is appropriate, but a doctor should make the ultimate call as to when your child is ready to go back to participating in sports," Brookhart says. Easton Robbins, patient representative for the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Red Balloon Run & Ride team, is an avid football and baseball player. He tore his ACL and medial collateral ligament and bruised his medial meniscus while playing football. His mom, Ruth Ann says, “Rehabilitation was pretty intense…There was serious intent for recovery, to get back on the field as soon as possible but only with complete healing and not without being ready.” Playing sports comes with a certain amount of risk. Though we wish we could, we can’t protect our kids from getting hurt—on or off the field. All we can do is try to prepare as much as possible and do the right thing when those inevita- ble injuries occur (and hope they’re not too serious). In the meantime, get your pom-poms, your collapsible chairs, your water bottle and your team spirit ready to cheer your kids on! “Growth is generally uneven: Bones grow first, which pulls at tight muscles and tendons. This uneven growth pattern makes younger athletes more susceptible to muscle, tendon and growth plate injuries.” goodHEALTH