Dr. Raphael Longobardi Reminds Parents, Coaches & Pediatricians that April is National Youth Sports Safety Month

Each year, millions of children are injured due to their participation in sports and fitness activities. The good news is that many of these injuries can be prevented with proper education and utilization of the various safety resources now available to parents, coaches and pediatricians.

Dr. Raphael Longobardi of the University Orthopaedic Center, P.A., in Hackensack, NJ, cautions all parents, coaches and pediatricians of young athletes about the importance of education that is designed to avoid potential injuries to young athletes. "Whether you're an athlete, coach or concerned parent, it's important to understand ways to prevent and manage any form of athletic injury should it occur," notes Dr. Longobardi. He also stresses the "importance of being aware of new or recurring injuries that can be brought on by overuse, and cautions that the most common athletic injuries are caused by simply "overdoing it."

Dr. Longobardi, a member of the American Orthopaedic Society of Sports Medicine (AOSSM) would like to take this opportunity to direct all concerned parents, coaches and pediatricians of young athletes to informative sites sponsored by the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation at www.nyssf.org and the AOSSM at www.sportsmed.org. Information obtained on these sites is free, and no parent, coach or pediatrician should be without it. You may also read about Dr. Longobardi's sports medicine experience, view interactive animations of the numerous orthopaedic procedures he performs and read more about common orthopaedic conditions by visiting his website at www.universityorthopaedic.com.

Dr. Longobardi, a graduate of New York University School of Medicine and member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and numerous other medical associations, is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Medical Center and has been honored by the Lillian S. Lusskin Orthopaedic Foundation for Excellence in Teaching. He is affiliated with Hackensack Medical Center, Holy Name Hospital and New York University Medical Center and the Hospital for Joint Diseases in New York City. Dr. Longobardi has also served as Team Physician to the Florida Marlins Baseball Team, the U.S. Tennis Association, the NY/NJ MetroStars Soccer Team, the New York Islanders Hockey Team, and numerous other professional and collegiate sports teams.

For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Raphael Longobardi of the University Orthopaedic Center at (201) 343-1717, 433 Hackensack Avenue, 2nd floor, Hackensack, NJ or visit www.universityorthopaedic.com.