Ep. 29 - Boys, Girls & Biomechanics: The Science Behind Sports. Expert Advice from an Orthopedic Surgeon on How to Prevent Injuries

Moms, there’s no doubt that sports seasons are getting longer and kids are specializing at a younger age. So how do we prevent injuries? And how can we protect girls, in particular, who have a higher incidence of injuries when compared to boys who play the same sport?Our guest today is Dr. Corinna Franklin, chief of pediatric orthopedics at Yale School of Medicine. She leads the Female+ Athlete Program at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital, which offers a holistic approach to preventing injury that goes beyond orthopedics to include mechanics, nutrition, and mental health support.Dr. Franklin begins by sharing the biological and physiological differences between boys and girls and how these influence training, plus:* the differences between turf vs. grass fields on sports injuries* a condition called “RED-S” that affects children who don’t receive proper nutrients to support their body’s needs * the consequences of specializing in one sport too early in a young athlete’s career* unexpected signs of concussion* the nutrients that Dr. Franklin recommends most for any childTo learn about Dr. Corinna Franklin and Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital’s Female+ Athlete Program, you can check out their website, call 877-YALE-MDS to make an appointment, or follow along on Instagram at @YaleNewHavenHealth