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. Learn about prevention tips for overuse injuries and how to keep your athletes active and healthy for the long haul.

With pressure to return to play faster, 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 athletes play a variety of sports.

Dr. Jefferson C. Brand, sports medicine specialist at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists, offers the following recommendations to help prevent overuse injuries in your athletes:

• Encourage your athletes to get enough rest after an injury and before returning to play so the injury will heal properly.
• Advise your athletes to try different sports so they are working different muscles.
• Listen to your athlete. Complaints of soreness should not be ignored.
• An athlete should be encouraged to tell you about their injuries, not hide injuries to avoid being taken out of the game.

Remembering these tips and knowing the physical limits for your athlete can help prevent overuse injuries and their potential long-term effects. For more information about overuse injuries or treatment options for your athlete, contact the specialists at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists by calling (320) 335-6078.