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Knee Injuries On the Rise for Young Athletes
Scientists have not been able to identify the specific cause of the increase in ACL tears in young athletes, but physicians suggest several potential factors. Children often idolize professional athletes and aspire to be like them. In hopes of achieving those dreams, children may push themselves too far or feel pressured to play sports at a high competitive level. In many cases, children feel the pressure to specialize in one sport from as young as eight or nine years old. Instead of shifting from one sport to the next, each emphasizing different physical skills and abilities, the single-sport athlete has no variation in activity. Additionally, there is no off-season since practices, games, and camps continue year-round. Constant training and conditioning doesn’t allow time for a child's growing body to rest and recuperate.
“Too often, children are focusing on only one sport from an early age and not developing the overall physical literacy needed to excel in multiple athletic activities and prevent injury,” explains Dr. Michael C. Koester, pediatric and adolescent sports medicine specialist at Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. “In the past, kids developed athletic skill through play and school-based physical education classes. The loss of those activities, and the rise in year-round organized sports, have been major contributors to the epidemic of sports injuries we are now seeing in young athletes.”
Some rest is always best between sports seasons, but if your child suffers an injury, it's important to treat it promptly and appropriately 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 (541) 485-8111 today to schedule an appointment with one of the sports medicine doctors at Slocum Center for Orthopedics & Sports Medicine.
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