How to Prevent Common Sports

Injuries in Children

Kids sports injuries are very common. As more kids get involved in organized sports it's likely at some point that they will develop one or more sports injuries. It's important to remember that kids are not "small adults." According to a recent Medscape report, "Pediatric injury types and patterns differ from those of adults and vary according to the child's skill level, level of conditioning, and actively growing musculoskeletal system."

"Children often believe they are invincible when participating in familiar sports or recreational activities, but they are actually more susceptible to sustaining sports injuries than adults," said James H. Beaty, MD, pediatric orthopaedic surgeon and second vice-president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). "While physical activity aids in developing muscles, it is important to remember that children's bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments are still growing, impacting their coordination and increasing their reaction time."

What Are The Most Common Injuries? According to kidshealth.org and the National Institutes of Health, the three most common types of sports injuries in children are acute injuries, overuse injuries, and reinjuries.

Acute injuries occur suddenly and typically include minor bruises, sprains, and strains. More severe acute injuries that can occur, regardless of age, include: eye injuries, broken bones or ligament injuries; brain injuries, including concussions, skull fractures, brain hemorrhages; and spinal cord injuries.

In some cases the growth plate may be injured. The growth plate is the area of developing cartilage at the end of the long bones in growing children. When growth is complete, sometime during adolescence, the growth plate is replaced by solid bone. The long bones in the body are the long bones of the fingers, the outer bone of the forearm, the collarbone, the hip, the bone of the upper leg, the lower leg bones, the ankle and the foot. If your child experiences pain in any of these areas, particularly at the ends, seek professional help from a doctor who specializes in bone injuries in children and adolescents (pediatric orthopaedist). Growth plate injuries are often confused with a contusion or sprain because the symptoms aren't as obvious as a regular bony fracture.

Overuse injuries occur from repetitive actions that put too much stress on the bones and muscles. These are more problematic in a child athlete because of the effect they may have on the child's bone growth. Any child who plays sports can develop overuse injuries, although the more time your child spends on the sport, the more likely your child is to experience an overuse injury.

Some of the most common types of overuse injuries are:
anterior knee pain: Anterior knee pain is pain in the front of the knee under the kneecap. The knee will be sore and swollen due to tendon or cartilage inflammation.

little league elbow: Repetitive throwing sometimes results in pain and tenderness in the elbow. The ability to flex and extend the arm may be affected, but the pain typically occurs after the follow-through of the throw.

swimmer's shoulder: Swimmer's shoulder is an inflammation (swelling) of the shoulder caused by the repeated stress of the overhead motion associated with swimming or throwing a ball.

shin splints: Shin splints are characterized by pain and discomfort on the front of the lower parts of the legs. They are often caused by repeated running on a hard surface or overtraining at the beginning of a season.

spondylolysis: Spondylolysis often results from trauma or from repetitive flexing, then overextension, twisting, or compression of the back muscles. This can cause persistent lower back pain. Spondylolysis is commonly seen in kids who participate in soccer, football, weight lifting, gymnastics, wrestling, and diving.

Reinjuries Another common sports injury is reinjury. Reinjury occurs when an athlete returns to the sport before a previous injury has sufficiently healed.

How to Prevent Sports Injuries
The National Institutes of Health offers these tips that parents can use to help keep their kids safe:

• Enroll your child in organized sports through schools, community clubs, and recreation areas where there may be adults who are certified athletic trainers (ATC). An ATC is also trained in the prevention, recognition and immediate care of sports injuries.1

• Wear appropriate protective gear (for example, shin guards for soccer, a hard-shell helmet when facing a baseball or softball pitcher, a helmet and body padding for ice hockey).

• Warmup exercises, such as stretching and light jogging, can help minimize the chance of muscle strain or other soft tissue injury during sports. Warm up exercises make the body's tissues warmer and more flexible. Cooling down exercises loosen the body's muscles that have tightened during exercise.

• Be in proper physical condition to play the sport.

• Know and abide by the rules of the sport..

• Know how to use the athletic equipment used in your sport.

• Avoid playing when very tired or in pain.

• Get a preseason physical examination.

• Drink plenty of water or other liquids to maintain proper hydration.

1 National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA): www.nata.org

 

Rick DeToma is a fitness coach, and trainer who specializes in home workouts. Contact Rick for a no obligation telephone fitness assessment at: http://www.tailored-fitness-home-workouts.com/contact.html

 

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