Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes

Participating in many different sports activities contributes to children’s health both mentally and physically. At the same time, many doctors specializing in sports medicine are reporting increasing numbers of young patients in their practice with repetitive use injuries. One sports medicine expert at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Dr. Amy Valasek, reports that approximately half the sports injuries she sees are due to overuse, as opposed to the more commonly known sports injuries such as sprains, fractures, and concussions.

A far cry from the days of informal baseball games in the neighbor’s backyard, an estimated 30 million to 45 million children in the USare involved in organized sports that involve intensive training throughout the year. Experts believe that there is greater specialization in one sport at a younger age, and the training programs have become more demanding. In addition, children often return to practice before an injury has fully healed and are not sufficiently trained in injury prevention.

Because the bones of children and young teenagers are still growing, they are particularly susceptible to overuse injury. Thus, experts advise avoiding specializing in a single sport before the age of 14. Most of these injuries are seen in children who perform multiple seasons of one sport rather than those who vary the athletic activities they practice.

Overuse injuries of the shin and knees are most common to runners; football and baseball players usually have elbow and shoulder injuries; cheerleaders, skaters, and dancers are prone to ankle injuries; and gymnasts often deal with wrist injuries due to the continuous force exerted on this part of the body.

Prevention of injury is of course the best form of treatment, and Dr. Valasek says it’s important to perform warm-ups and whole-body stretches before any training session. The American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness advises that children practice no more than five days per week, taking one day off from any organized training. They also advise a break of two to three months to recover between seasons and heal any injuries they may have sustained during the training season.

If your child complains of dull aches and/or pain for more than three or four days, either during or after sports practice, and whether or not it includes a restriction in motion or if the area is tender when touched, then you should consult a doctor.

Dr. Valasek notes, “It’s important to remember that the main reason to engage children in sports is not to turn them into professional athletes, but to condition the whole body in a healthy way and instill a sense of discipline, responsibility, and teamwork.”

It is also important to teach your child to be more aware of their own condition. You can encourage them to talk to you about their pain or symptoms. Your chiropractor can teach your children about useful warm-up and warm-down stretching to minimize the chance of injuries and enhance performance.

Periodic check-ups and adjustments are also recommended. Dr. Choi also does sports physicals not only to rule out the risks but also to ensure their optimal athletic performance. Hidden fixation or subluxation sometimes are the cause of injuries. Children are far more flexible in their muscles and mobile in their joints. And they respond great to chiropractic adjustments!! Get your children adjusted so that they can unleash their maximum potential!

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