(NU) – Skateboarding
’s cutting edge image is leading more teen boys to pick up a
skateboard. But there is a dangerous side to this “extreme”
activity.
(NU) – Skateboarding’s cutting edge image is leading more teen boys to pick up a skateboard. But there is a dangerous side to this “extreme” activity.
According to a study published in The Journal of Trauma, there were more than 100,000 skateboarding-related injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms in 2001 alone.
Recent studies have shown that people incur a higher rate of bone fractures during their adolescence than any other time in life. And, nearly half of these fractures are from sport-related injuries.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says low calcium intake by teens may be one of the leading causes for bone fractures. A study conducted by Goulding found that adolescents with low bone density are more likely to break a bone.
Goulding’s study shows that drinking milk not only builds strong bones in the future, but also helps prevent stress fractures and broken bones in the pre-sent.
Teens need at least 1,300 mil-igrams of calcium daily. However, 70 percent of teen boys don’t meet that amount.
“Parents can warn skaters that you can’t skate in a cast,” said professional skateboarder and one-time X-Games champion Bob Burnquist. “My advice for Barents is to go beyond helmets ind pads. Make sure your active teens are drinking lots of milk every day to help ward off fractures and develop bone strength.”
• Practice. As with any sport, to perform at your highest level, you need to train. Try to nail down a few moves that work and keep perfecting them. Burnquist recommends starting with ollies, kickflips and the pop shuvit.
• Protect. Start with a strong foundation. Pour calcium into your bones on a daily basis. Then, layer on protective gear: elbow pads and a helmet. To help build bone density, incorporate strength training.
• Power up. Like in any sport, good nutrition is the fuel that keeps the body performing.
In addition to packing in calcium for strong bones, low-fat milk also delivers protein and is loaded with vitamins and minerals. Incorporate a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other low-fat proteins into your daily menu. Details: www.whymilk.com.
