Year-Round Sports Increase Risk of Teen Injuries

Injuries in young athletes are on the rise and can be attributed to year-round activity in sports that could lead to injuries down the road. Learn about prevention tips for overuse injuries and how to keep your young athlete active and healthy.

John C. Monteleone, M.D., a sports medicine specialist at Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic & Spine Center, has treated a variety of injuries in young athletes, from the acute type such as: ankle and knee sprains; rotator cuff tears; back, neck, and shoulder sprains; head injuries, and concussions, to the chronic and over use type such as: tennis elbow, tendonitis, shin splints, and stress fractures. With pressure to return to play faster, young athletes are often pushing themselves too hard after an injury. Without proper rest, an injury does not heal correctly and could lead to more serious injuries as the athlete ages. In a time when year-round sports are the norm, it is important to work different muscles and joints, and not focus on one repetitive motion. This can be accomplished simply through having your child play a variety of sports.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), every year more than 3.5 million children age 14 and younger are treated for sports injuries. Dr. Monteleone offers the following recommendations to help prevent overuse injuries in younger athletes:

• Get enough rest after an injury before returning to play so the injury will heal properly.
• Encourage children to try different sports so they are working different muscles.
• Parents, listen to your child. Complaints of soreness should not be ignored.
• Limit the number of teams on which a child plays in one season.
• An athlete should be encouraged to tell their coaches or parents about their injuries, and not hide injuries to avoid being taken out of the game.
• Parents and coaches should know pitching count guidelines and prevent athletes from throwing more than what is recommended for their age.

Remembering these tips and knowing the physical limits for a child in sports can help prevent overuse injuries in young athletes and potential long-term effects. For more information about overuse injuries, contact the specialists at Sierra Pacific Orthopaedic & Spine Center at (877) 666-6080.