Sports participation offers a host of benefits for children, including weight management, social skill development and team-building skills. But there are downsides, as well. Every year, millions of young athletes end up in the emergency room or doctor’s office with a sports-related injury.
"Our goal with athletes is to enable them to perform to their maximum capabilities while minimizing, as much as possible, the risk of injury. This requires coordination with and surveillance by the athlete’s parents, coaches, trainers and clinicians,” says Logan Hanson, DO, Orthopedic Surgeon with OMH Orthopedic Surgery.
Common Sports Injuries
From sprains and strains to shin splints and Little League elbow, a variety of conditions can bring sports participation to a halt.
Acute injuries occur suddenly, often after a collision or other trauma. Examples include sprains, fractures, torn ligaments, eye injuries, concussions and spinal cord injuries. At the high school level, 39.7% of athletic injuries are to the foot and ankle, with sprains being the most common. Contact sports such as football or basketball may spring to mind, but baseball players may also suffer acute injuries from high-speed balls, mid-field collisions and improper sliding. There are over 330,000 sports-related head injuries reported each year.
Overuse injuries occur when repetitive actions put too much stress on bones and muscles. Inadequate warm-up; increased duration, intensity or frequency of activity; improper technique or equipment; and playing the same sport year-round can all contribute to an overuse injury. Repetitive stress can be a problem at any age, but it can be more troublesome in children whose bone growth may be hampered. In fact, 10% of all shoulder pain in pediatric patients is related to throwing. Conditions like knee pain, Little League elbow, swimmer’s shoulder and shin splints often cause pain and may grow worse the longer a child plays the sport.
Reinjury can happen if a child returns to a sport before he or she has properly healed from an injury. Letting the body fully recover from an injury is essential. Otherwise the child may be placing extra stress on the injury and forcing the body to compensate for the weakness, which can lead to another injury.
Treat it Right
The type of sports injury often dictates the treatment. An injury that affects a child’s basic functioning (such as range of motion or balance) or causes a change in consciousness requires a trip to the doctor’s office or, for serious injuries, the nearest emergency room. For overuse injuries, listen to your child’s complaints of pain or discomfort and see a doctor.
"The care of sports related injuries brings unique challenges. Treatment from non-surgical to surgical and return-to-play decisions are made on a patient-by-patient basis. We strive to safely return the athlete to play as quickly as possible while aiming to prevent future injuries and recurrences,” says Dr. Hanson.
The Orthopedic Surgery Team at OMH provide orthopedic exams, treatments and, if necessary, surgical options to help your child overcome a sports-related injury. To learn more or make an appointment, call 989-732-1753.