Medical perspectives on pediatric sports medicine-Selective topics.

Selective medical perspectives of pediatric sports medicine are explored in this issue and behavioral perspectives of pediatric sports medicine are discussed in a subsequent journal issue. Concepts are considered now dealing with sports readiness involving the child and adolescent that involve understanding the limits imposed by growth and development at different ages as well as pubertal stages. Specializing in one sport too soon is not recommended. Sports readiness also involves understanding and counseling about proper diet and nutrition for maximum sports activity as well as overall health benefits. As clinicians understand sports readiness they can provide a beneficial pre-participation sports examination and deal with qualifications for sports play. Various medical conditions arise in dealing with pediatric persons involved in sports and these are considered in this discussion. They include the female athlete triad, iron deficiency anemia, sports anemia, musculoskeletal overuse injuries, obesity, sudden cardiac death, return to learning after sports-related concussion, epilepsy, asthma, diabetes mellitus, gastrointestinal disorders, genitourinary disorders and dermatology disorders in sports. Clinicians can be very helpful to these young athletes and work with them to ensure the full benefits of sport activities.