Approximately 3.8 million sports-related concussions occur in the United States each year.

More than 38 million boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18 participate in organized youth sports. And while sports can be a fun way to socialize and instill values such as teamwork, physical activity can also mean potential for injuries.

Coaches, parents and athletes need to be on the lookout for injuries, especially more serious types of injuries such as concussions.

Recognizing such injuries and being proactive are key because approximately 3.8 million sports and recreation-related concussions occur in the United States each year. So, what may seem to be a mild bump or blow to the head can often be far more serious.

Contact between athletes, collisions between athletes and objects such as goalposts or hurdles or simple falls can all result in concussions, which cause the brain to move rapidly inside the skull.

Should a concussion occur on the playing field, there are many signs and symptoms that coaches and parents need to know. For example, athletes who experience any kind of change in behavior, thinking or physical functioning may be in need of care.

As a result, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stepped in to help with the development of the "Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports" tool kit.

The kit provides a comprehensive list of signs and symptoms of a concussion as well as important steps to take when a concussion is suspected. The materials are available in both English and Spanish and include:

To learn more about concussions or to order the "Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports" tool kit free of charge, visit: www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports

RELATED FITNESS ARTICLES

JUKARI Fit to Fly Workout
Reebok & Cirque du Soleil Partnership Creates Innovative Gym Workout

In 1989, Reebok revolutionized women's fitness with the creation of Step Reebok.

Today, the company revealed its new launch of an innovative gym workout - JUKARI Fit to Fly.

JUKARI Fit to Fly makes fitness fun again by introducing a new way to move in a gym workout and is accessible to all women, regardless of fitness levels.

Walking A Step in the Right Direction

Walking is one of the easiest ways to be physically active. A brisk-paced walk can help you feel better, increase energy, and pick up your spirits.

Walking is a simple and flexible way to improve your health, and it’s practically free. You can walk alone or with friends, indoors or outdoors, on a city sidewalk or a country trail, any time of the year. Brisk walking can help control your weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen your heart, and reduce the likelihood of serious health problems in the future.

The Integrated Approach to Weight Loss
Two-thirds of American adults are overweight and one in three are considered to be obese. An integrative approach can be an effective strategy for losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight.

Spring Into Health With WIN Fitness
Taking better care of yourself doesn't have to be a grueling process. People often associate healthy eating and exercise with pain and suffering. However, simple changes to your eating and physical activity habits can make the process easier. The Weight-control Information Network (WIN), a program that provides the general public, health professionals, the media and Congress with up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity and related nutritional issues, suggests these tips to put you on the fast track to better health.

Health and Fitness: Play it Safe When it Comes To Concussions
More than 38 million boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 18 participate in organized youth sports. And while sports can be a fun way to socialize and instill values such as teamwork, physical activity can also mean potential for injuries.

Health and Fitness: Company Wellness Programs Help Employees Shape Up
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is a challenge for millions of Americans. Between hectic work schedules, long commutes and juggling family and job responsibilities, most people say they cannot find time to exercise. In fact, according to a Physical Activity Survey recently conducted by AARP, 50 percent of people age 18 years and older said that lack of time prevents them from being active.

Health and Fitness: Beat Aches and Pains with These Outdoor Activity Tips
When beautiful, sunny weather replaces the gray skies of winter, many take advantage by getting outside and participating in a variety of activities such as gardening, golfing and hiking. But after the fun is over, aches and pains can kick in which can considerably decrease your sunny, outdoor activities.

Create a Home Fitness Plan that Works
The Spinner Sport enables a low-impact, cardiovascular workout that burns as many as 500 calories in 40 minutes.

The Top 10 Places to Take a Walk
Love to walk? You might be living in one of the nation's 10 most walker-friendly cities. The American Podiatric Medical Association has released this year's list of top walking cities in the country.

30-Minute Circuit Training Program Saves Time and Burns Calories
In the age of 50-hour work weeks, it's easy to let fitness fall by the wayside. In fact, the number one reason why most people do not lead active lifestyles is because of a perceived lack of time. For this reason, 30-minute workouts are becoming increasingly popular.

Help for Tired Muscles, Achy Joints
Fitness can really punish your body, especially your knees and other joints. This can be difficult to deal with, not only for athletes at the top of their game, but also for active seniors who enjoy such sports as golf or tennis.

Alcohol Health Benefit or Health Risk?
We've all heard the news about the potential heart-health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. It's no wonder such stories grab headlines.

Heading to the Gym? Follow These Hygiene Tips
After a workout, change out of your sweat-soaked clothes as soon as possible.

Nutrition Tops List of Consumer Concerns
As the baby boom generation turns 60 and beyond, health and wellness concerns are spiking. According to a recent survey, four in five consumers are more concerned about health, nutrition and fitness than they were a year ago, but nutrition beat out fitness as the top priority for the first time.

Health & Fitness: Make a Connection With Your Teen
Talking with teenagers about their health isn't always a parent's or a teen's favorite conversation. But parents have more influence on their teen's health than they think, according to researchers with the Prevention Research Centers (PRC) network.