We encourage our children to play safely and to use safety gear. Now they're filling up emergency rooms. More than a million baby boomers were treated for a sports injury in the 1990s - more than 300,000 of those in emergency rooms. This represents a significant increase in the number of injuries from the previous decade, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Bicycling and basketball.
Age is one likely culprit behind the increase in injuries.
People need to take more precautions as they age because their bodies aren't as flexible and are less likely to bounce back from injury. Another cause of injuries is lack of proper protective equipment. Baby boomers may insist that their children wear bike helmets, for example, but they don't wear them themselves. Exercise specialists at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas say it's important to warm up carefully before exercising. Increase your intensity level gradually.