How To Keep Your Young Athlete Healthy

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Most schools are now in session and that means lots of sports practices for kids of all ages.

While some injuries are bound to happen, we want to help make sure your kids stay as safe as possible on the field and in the courts. Stacie Clark, who was just named Women's Health Magazine's Next Fitness Star, has some tips on how to prevent injuries as we get into season.

So what are some of the most common injuries among kids who play sports and how can you prevent them?

Clark said preparation is the biggest key to train, to play and to perform. A proper warm-up is one of the key pieces to the equation. It helps with injury prevention, core body temperature and heart-rate and helps prepare the body mentally and physically for competition.

Clark said if you don't stretch properly, it's very easy to injure your hamstring and quadriceps, important muscles in sports.

Nate Schielman also works with Shock Doctor, a Twin Cities company that specializes in sports injury prevention with its products.