Keeping Young Athletes in the Game: AOSSM's STOP Sports Injuries Patient Education Comes to Medbridge

Youth sports injuries are common, costly, and often preventable. The CDC estimates about 3.5 million youth sports injuries occur in the U.S. each year, and one in three young athletes seeks medical care for a sports-related injury annually. More than half of those injuries can be prevented with the right education.

That is why the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) and Medbridge are partnering to put AOSSM's STOP Sports Injuries tip sheets directly into Medbridge Care. Starting November 2026, clinicians can assign STOP Sports Injuries resources to athletes, patients, and families alongside home exercise programs, at the moment the guidance matters most.

What is STOP Sports Injuries?

STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) is AOSSM's campaign to reduce overuse and traumatic injuries in young athletes. It was developed with support from leading organizations including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the National Athletic Trainers' Association, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine, the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America, and the Sports Physical Therapy Section.

The tip sheets cover three areas:

• General resources: warm-ups, cooldowns, hydration, workload, and safe return to play.

• Injury-specific resources: guidance on common youth injuries and how to recognize them early.

• Sport-specific resources: prevention tips tailored to the demands of individual sports.

Why put it inside the plan of care?

Prevention education works best when it reaches families at the right time from a provider they trust. With STOP Sports Injuries Tip Sheets included in Medbridge Care, a physical therapist treating a 14-year-old pitcher can send sport-specific throwing guidance with the same click as their exercise program. An athletic trainer can share return-to-play expectations with parents before the athlete is back on the field. A sports medicine practice can standardize the education every young athlete receives.

"Clinicians shouldn't have to choose between the most trusted guidance and the most efficient workflow,” said Andrew Mickus, Medbridge Chief Content and Clinical Officer. “Bringing AOSSM's STOP Sports Injuries resources into Medbridge Care gives more than 350,000 providers expert-developed prevention education they can assign in seconds. That means more young athletes staying healthy and in the game." 

What this means for clinicians and families

• For clinicians: expert-developed, ready-to-assign education with no extra workflow

• For athletes and parents: clear, practical guidance they can access on any device, reinforced at every visit

• For organizations: consistent, evidence-based prevention messaging across every provider and clinic

"Most youth sports injuries are preventable when athletes, parents, and coaches have the right information at the right time,” said Henry Ellis, MD, Medical Director, Clinical Research, Scottish Rite for Children. “The best time is when a young athlete is already in front of a provider. Partnering with Medbridge puts STOP guidance into the plan of care, so it reaches families from the clinician they already trust." 

Get started

• Medbridge Care customers can find STOP Sports Injuries tip sheets in the Patient Education Library. 

• Explore Medbridge Care.

• Learn more about STOP.

About AOSSM

The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) is a leading professional medical society dedicated to advancing orthopaedic sports medicine through education, research, and collaboration. Representing nearly 8,000 orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, and healthcare professionals, AOSSM supports the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports-related injuries in athletes and active individuals of all ages and abilities. AOSSM provides continuing medical education, scientific research, professional development, and opportunities for collaboration to advance patient care and the practice of sports medicine worldwide. Learn more at sportsmed.org.