Avoiding Sports-Related Injuries Can Help Young Athletes Stay in the Game

Participating in sports offers a host of benefits for children to stay healthy. But there are downsides, as well. Millions of young athletes end up in the emergency room or doctor’s office with a sports-related injury every year.

Common Sports Injuries

From concussions, sprains, and strains to shin splints, various conditions can bring sports participation to a halt. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the three types of conditions in which an athlete may need to see a doctor include:

Acute Injuries. These types of injuries occur suddenly, often after a collision or other trauma. Examples of acute injuries include sprains, strains, fractures, dislocations, growth plate separation, torn cartilage, bruises, cuts, scrapes, pinched nerves, herniated disks. Symptoms may include pain (other symptoms that restrict sports activity and affect daily activity), swelling, bruising, deformity, spasm, restricted or locking joint, instability, numbness, tingling, or shooting pains. 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.

Overuse Injuries. An overuse injury occurs 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. Conditions include tendonitis, shin splints, stress fractures, growth plate problems like Osgood-Schlatter, Sever’s disease, or Little League elbow, bursitis, fasciitis, compartment syndrome, nerve entrapment, and spondylolysis.

Medical Illness or Conditions. A variety of sports-related medical illnesses or conditions include concussion, fever, skin infections such as impetigo, ringworm or measles, abdominal pain, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, and heat-related injury. 

Tips to Prevent Injuries

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers the following tips to help your child avoid injuries when participating in a sport.

Gear up. Ensure your child uses the proper protective gear for their sport, such as helmets, wrist guards, knee or elbow pads.

Use the correct equipment. Check sports protective equipment to make sure it is in good condition, fits appropriately, and is worn all the time correctly. Poorly fitting equipment may be uncomfortable and may not offer the best protection.

Have an action plan in place. Be sure your child’s sports program or school has an action plan that includes information on how to teach athletes ways to lower their chances of getting a concussion and other injuries. 

Pay attention to temperature. Allow time for child athletes to gradually adjust to hot or humid environments to prevent heat-related injuries or illness. Parents and coaches should pay close attention to make sure that players are hydrated and appropriately dressed.

When to See a Doctor

According to the AAP, any athlete with a chronic injury or medical condition should see a doctor and be approved to participate in sports. A serious injury requires a trip to the nearest emergency room. For overuse injuries, listen to your child’s complaints of pain or discomfort and see a doctor.

A safe return to activity following a sports injury or an illness depends on early recognition and treatment.