Posicionamento de entidades médicas e científicas sobre a participação de crianças e adolescentes no boxe

Pediatrics. 2011 Aug 28. [Epub ahead of print]

Policy Statement--Boxing Participation by Children and Adolescents.

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS; COUNCIL ON SPORTS MEDICINE AND FITNESS; CANADIAN PAEDIATRIC SOCIETY; HEALTHY ACTIVE LIVING AND SPORTS MEDICINE COMMITTEE.

Abstract

Thousands of boys and girls younger than 19 years participate in boxing in North America. Although boxing provides benefits for participants, including exercise, self-discipline, and self-confidence, the sport of boxing encourages and rewards deliberate blows to the head and face. Participants in boxing are at risk of head, face, and neck injuries, including chronic and even fatal neurologic injuries. Concussions are one of the most common injuries that occur with boxing. Because of the risk of head and facial injuries, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Paediatric Society oppose boxing as a sport for children and adolescents. These organizations recommend that physicians vigorously oppose boxing in youth and encourage patients to participate in alternative sports in which intentional head blows are not central to the sport.