Common Injuries for Youth Athletes
Young athletes are specializing earlier and earlier, but not without consequence.
Author: Mark A. Montuore, MPT Physical Therapist at Summit Physial Therapy
The number of youth athletes competing in organized sports has grown significantly over the last decade. Youth athletes range in age from 5-17 years old and are competing at higher intensity levels and with greater frequency than ever before. Parents are bringing their children to training facilities and sport specific clubs to provide extra training and instruction in addition to their team activities. Some of these athletes are competing on multiple teams each season. Many of these athletes are committing to one sport all year long and as early as 8 years old. The result of this trend has caused a significant rise in youth injuries. It is important for parents and coaches to have an understanding of the common injuries their athletes may incur, how to identify them, and what to do if their child or athlete suffers an injury.
There are two major types of injuries that we see in athletes as well as the general active population. Acute injuries can be caused by a collision, a fall, or being placed in an awkward position. The result of these types of injuries are muscle strains/tears, Ligament sprains/tears, and fractures. Overuse injuries develop over time and are caused by performing the same type of activity repetitively. These injuries are actually harder to treat and can be prevented with proper guidance. Tendinitis, stress fractures, and bone spurs are examples of injuries that can occur with overuse. Causes of both types of injuries are provided below:
Lack of stretching or warm-up
Muscle weakness/imbalance
Poor endurance
Poor technique
Not using protective equipment
Lack of cross training
Return to activity prematurely
Accidental
Our goal should be to try to minimize and/or prevent injuries in all athletes if possible. Acute injuries are more difficult to avoid because they often occur unintentionally. However, both Overuse and Acute injuries can be reduced or prevented using the following guidelines:
Proper Warm-up and stretching
Strength training
Endurance training
Proper form while performing activity
Cross training
Appropriate equipment
Allowance for recovery after activity/training
Seek treatment when symptoms persist
As a parent, a coach of multiple sports, and an orthopedic physical therapist for more than 20 years I can assure you that the severity and frequency of youth injuries is a serious problem that we need to address. Every year more athletes under the age of 17 are undergoing major orthopedic surgeries for injuries that may be prevented. The statistics on emergency room visits every year are staggering for these individuals. Below are some statistics for various youth sports:
Sports Injury Rates*
Basketball - 194,000
Football - 172,000
Baseball/Softball - 99,000
Soccer - 81,000
Skiing/Snowboarding - 35,300
Skateboarding - 33,000
Gymnastics - 22,500
* Emergency Room Visits for children ages 5-14 years old
Parents and coaches need to be able to identify an injury when it is present and address it accordingly. Reports or persistent pain and/or the presence of swelling as well as the inability to perform at the same physical level are signs that your athlete needs help. If any of these are occurring then a coach, athletic trainer, parent, or team physician should be notified immediately. The sport should be discontinued until the issue can be assessed by the appropriate medical personnel. In the event there is an injury of any type whether it be an acute or overuse injury your local physical therapist is trained to guide you through the recovery process and a safe return to your sport.