All Articles by Lindsey Barton Straus, JD

2012 Little League and High School Bat Rules and Specifications

Bats used in high school baseball in 2012 must meet Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) and ball exit speed ratio (BSR) limits while non-wood bats approved for use in Little League Baseball must also meet strict guidelines and the moratorium on composite bats continues.

Pediatric Group Recommends Softer Baseballs For Younger Players

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends softer baseballs for youth players under the age of 12 in a 2012 Policy Statement.

Baseball and Softball: Most Popular and Among The Safest Youth Sports

Baseball and softball are among the most popular and safest sports in which children and adolescents participate in the United States, says an updated policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Preventing Commotio Cordis in Youth Baseball

Young baseball and softball players who receive direct ball impact to the chest wall directly over the heart may develop sudden cardiac arrest, a condition called commotio cordis.  Teaching batters to turn away from an inside pitch, and pitchers to react as quickly as possible to a batted ball hit back at them can help reduce the risk, and an AED and a someone trained in CPR should be on site at all times to increase the chances of survival.

Repetitive Head Impacts: A Major Concern At All Levels of Sports

Brain trauma among football players may be less the result of violent helmet-on-helmet collisions that cause concussions as the accumulation of sub-concussive blows.  The long-term effects of such repetitive brain trauma are still unknown.

Post-Concussion Syndrome: Possible Therapies

While no medicine has been shown to effectively speed the recovery from concussive brain injury, some new and non-traditional therapies have been shown to help relieve the symptoms of post-concussion syndrome, as well as the value of strict cognitive and physical rest.

Heading in Soccer: Long-Term Effect Remains Unclear

While it is possible that intentional heading in soccer represents a form of repetitive subconcussive mild brain injury which, over time,  could be a cause of chronic traumatic encephalpathy (CTE), the possible cause-and-effect relationship remains theoretical, says a 2012 study.

Female Soccer Players At Risk for Stress Fractures, Long-Term Health Problems: Study

Elite female soccer players are at risk for menstrual irregularities and stress fractures from the combination of intense training and insufficient nutrition, says a new study.

Warm-Up Program Cuts ACL Injury Rate In Adolescent Female Soccer Players By Two-Thirds: Study

A 15-minute neuromuscular warm-up program significantly reduced the ACL injury rate in teenage female soccer players, finds a new study. Players who used the program at least once a week also had significant decrease in rates of severe knee injury and other acute knee injuries.

Making Sure Football Helmet Fits: A Simple, But Effective Way To Minimize Concussion Risk?

Ensuring that football helmets fit properly, and that those with air bladder linings are properly inflated, may be two of the simplest but most effective ways to minimize the risk of concussion and catastrophic brain injury, say the authors of a February 2012 study.