The Pediatric Sports Medicine program provides management, educational, research and outreach activities centered on sports related health issues, with particular emphasis on children and adolescents.   In collaboration with Dr. Deborah Burnet in the Department of Medicine, we are pursuing a multidisciplinary study which incorporates nutrition and physical activity in an educational practical model to treat obesity in a community-based setting.   A second research program is through a collaboration with Dr. Cynthia Mears at Children’s Memorial Hospital for a study entitled Making an IMPACT at Illinois Schools: Increasing Movement and Physical Activity through Community-based Teams (IMPACT). 

Annually we present a national CME program entitled Current Concepts in Primary Care Sports Medicine. In conjunction with the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, we provide educational materials on pediatric sports medicine (www.illinoisaap.org link to sports medicine).  Through national Sports Shorts program of the American Academy of Pediatrics, our program provides the educational materials for physicians, allied health providers, parents and coaches through the following website: http://www.aap.org/family/sportsshort.htm. 

Other academic opportunities are afforded through my involvement in local and national associations. Currently, I chair the Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness for the Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics and was elected last year to the Board of Directors of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, and to the Executive Council for the national American Academy of Pediatrics.   Other outreach activities are currently under development which will provide on-line and in-print answers to questions regarding sport safety and injury prevention.  

Additional information on the clinical program is available on the Comer Children's Hospital website.

Publications:              

Benjamin, HJ. Briner, WW. Volleyball: Managing Acute and Overuse Injuries. The Physician and Sports Medicine. Vol. 27, (3). March 1999.

Benjamin JH. Overuse Injuries. Musculoskeletal Medicine. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. 2002. Joe Bernstein, Editor.

Volleyball (Book Chapter with William W. Briner) The Female Athlete. Editors: Aurelia Nattiv and Mary Lloyd Ireland. Williams & Wilkins 2003.

Benjamin, HJ. Viewpoints: Pro Position Drug Testing in Adolescent Athletes. American Academy of Pediatric Sports Medicine and Fitness Newsletter; June 2003.

Benjamin HJ.  Glow K. Strength Training for Children and Adolescents. What Can Physicians Recommend? The Physician and Sports Medicine. Vol. 31 (9).

Benjamin HJ, Briner WW. Little League Elbow: Practical Management. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine. Vol. 15 (1). January 2005

Benjamin, HJ. Little League Shoulder and Elbow Guidelines. Illinois Pediatrician. Spring, 2005

Benjamin, H. Emergency Medicine Clinical Vignettes, In: Pediatric Examination and Board Review. Daum, R. and Canel, J, Ed. McGraw Hill, 2007.

Community Associated: MRSA: New Sports Epidemic. Benjamin,HJ., Takagishi, J. Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine In Press

Getting a Grasp on Hand and Wrist Injuries. Contemporary Pediatrics. http://www.contemporarypediatrics.com In press 2006.

All of the following are available online at www.illinoisaap.org click Illinois Pediatrician link.

Benjamin, HJ. Monroe, D. Airbags: Safe or Unsafe? Illinois Pediatrician. Fall, 1997.

Benjamin, HJ. Introducing Sports Medicine. Illinois Pediatrician. Summer, 2001

Benjamin, HJ. Creatine: Facts versus Fiction. Illinois Pediatrician. Fall, 2001.

Benjamin, HJ. Glow, K. Strength Training. Risk versus Benefits. Illinois Pediatrician. Spring, 2002

Benjamin, HJ. Childhood Obesity: A “Growing” Epidemic. Illinois Pediatrician. Fall, 2004

Benjamin, HJ. Glow, K. Preventing Ankle Sprain Injuries: What Can We Tell Our Patients.  Illinois Pediatrician. Winter, 2004

Benjamin, HJ. Lawless, C. Update on PPE: Part 1. New Cardiovascular Screening Recommendations.  Illinois Pediatrician. Summer, 2005.

Benjamin, HJ. Update on PPE: Part 2. General Guidelines and What’s New. Illinois Pediatrician. Fall, 2005.