Knee Injuries in Young Athletes on the Rise

Youth sports provide young people with several benefits, including physical conditioning, the chance to socialize with friends and teammates, and the opportunity to work with a team toward a common goal. Unfortunately, there are also several risks involved with sports. A new study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics’ annual meeting showed that knee injuries from sports among young athletes are increasing at an alarming rate.

Scientists are not certain as to the cause of the increase in youth ACL tears, but many physicians suggest several potential factors. Today, children often idolize the professional athletes they see on TV and aspire to be more like them. In hopes of achieving these dreams, children may push themselves or feel pressured to play sports at competitive levels, typically choosing multiple sports to participate in. As one season ends, another one begins, and for some children there is no off-season, as the camps, practices, and games carry on year-round. This cycle does not allow time for a child's growing body to rest and recuperate.

“Decades ago, young athletes were not playing sports at such extreme levels,” says Dr. Eric C. Hanson, sports medicine specialist at Sierra Pacific Orthopedics. “As a result, their knees hardly ever had to endure the hard hits and repeated twists that young players regularly experience today.”

Rest is always best between sports, but if your child suffers an injury, it's important to treat it appropriately from the beginning to help them return to play safely. If a knee injury is keeping your son or daughter off the playing field or court, please call (877) 666-6080 or click here to schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine specialists online today.