Birmingham Parent
José "Jody" O. Ortega, M.D.
In recent years, football has taken a hit with concerns about safety being at an all-time hight. But according to a recent report, the sport has actually seen a modest increase in kids playing the game.
According to the Sport & Fitness Industry Association, approximately 2.169 million children ages 6-14 played tackle football in 2015, up 1.9 percent from 2014. Flag football participation among the same age group in 2015 was approximately 1.669 million, up 8.7 percent from 2014.
Quote from Dr. Jody Ortega
"Concussions and neck/cervical spine injuries can be catastrophic, but in the younger ages it's not as much of a concern. Head injuries are not as much of a concern before junior high."
Another significant health risk to watch for is...
