ANN ARBOR—Summer ushers in a steep rise in youth sports injuries as teams practice longer and play more. Many of these injuries may have life-long adverse health effects, but parents and coaches can help youngsters prevent most injuries with a few simple precautions.

University of Michigan experts can discuss the types and frequencies of sports injuries and preventive measures to decrease the risk of injury.

Ron Zernicke, director of the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center and professor of orthopaedic surgery, kinesiology and biomedical engineering.

Expertise: Biomechanics of injury and injury prevention; the adaptation of bone to exercise, disuse, diet and disease; and joint injury and post-traumatic osteoarthritis.

Contact: (734) 930-7466 or [email protected]

Ed Wojtys, M.D., associate director of the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center and professor of orthopaedic surgery.

Expertise: Neuromuscular protection of the knee and ACL injuries. He is also medical director of the MedSport Sports Medicine Program.

Contact: (734) 930-7400 or [email protected]

James Ashton-Miller, associate director of the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center and professor of mechanical and biomedical engineering and internal medicine and director of the Institute of Gerontology.

Expertise: Musculoskeletal biomechanics and orthopaedic sports medicine, specifically in young women.

Contact: (734) 763-2320 or [email protected]

Riann Palmieri-Smith, assistant professor in athletic training at the School of Kinesiology, director of the Neuromuscular Research Laboratory and co-director of the Human Neuromechanics Laboratory, with an appointment at the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center.

Expertise: Knee injuries and training programs for females to better support knee joints.

Contact: (734) 615-3154 or [email protected]

Scott McLean, assistant professor in athletic training and movement science at the School of Kinesiology, with an appointment at the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center.

Expertise: Identifying the underlying mechanisms of sports-related injuries?specifically in knees?and musculoskeletal modeling enabling for the creation of more effective injury screening and prevention strategies.

Contact: (734) 764-5237 or [email protected]

Dr. Bruce Miller, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery, with an appointment at the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center. He is also team physician for the U-M and Eastern Michigan University athletic departments, the U.S. Ski Team and the U.S.A. Rugby Team.

Expertise: The outcomes of sports medicine surgery of the shoulder and knee, as well as cartilage injury and repair and rotator cuff disease.

Contact: (734) 930-7393 or [email protected]

Dr. Neal Chen, clinical lecturer in orthopaedic surgery, with an appointment at the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center.

Expertise: Baseball injuries, rotator cuff injuries, elbow ligament injuries and the treatment of sports-related hand injuries.

Contact: (734) 930-7397 or [email protected]

Dr. Jon Sekiya, associate professor in orthopaedic surgery, with an appointment at the Bone & Joint Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation Center. He is also team physician for the U-M and Eastern Michigan University athletic departments.

Expertise: Outcomes of sports medicine surgery, complex shoulder and knee surgery, and hip arthroscopy.

Contact: (734) 930-7397 or [email protected]