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Forms and Instructions
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Sports participation has become a right of passage for many of today’s youth. Organized youth sports can help develop not only physical skills, but social skills for many children. Sports also can encourage kids to work together for a common goal. The idea of young children participating in organized sports is relatively new. Up until the later part of the 20th century, kid’s sports participation often involved free play that was open to creativity, spontaneity, and did not involve adult supervision. Kids did not focus on one sport or activity.
Today many children are forced to specialize in one sport only at younger ages with the idea that this will make them a better player and potentially allow them greater success as teenagers or young adults. Unfortunately this is usually not the case, and in fact the early specialization in one sport has shown to increase the risk of overuse injury and emotional burn-out in many kids.
With the focus of many youth sports encouraging more intense training and competition at younger ages, we are seeing marked increases in overuse injuries in today’s young athletes. It is good for coaches and parents to be aware of some of the injuries so that their young athletes can be treated before serious injury and long-term damage occurs.
Sever’s Disease is a very common injury that I see in both boys and girls. They have pain around the heel that is caused by irritation where the Achilles tendon and plantar fascia attaches at the back of the heel. It is very common in any sport with lots of running.
Osgood Schlatter’s Disease involves pain just below the knee over the area that we call the tibial tubercle. Often there is a bump over this area as well and the child will complain of pain when they straighten their leg at the knee. They will complain of pain when they run.
Shin splints typically affect those who run on hard surfaces. Basketball players and runners are most affected. It needs to be distinguished from stress fractures of the shin bones.
Pain around or behind the kneecap is often patellofemoral syndrome. It occurs in sports with lots of running or jumping. The athlete may describe pain which is worse with running, jumping, climbing stairs, or after sitting for a long time.
Little League elbow is due to repetitive throwing and occurs most frequently in pitchers, but can also be seen in tennis players and quarterbacks. These kids will report pain at the inner aspect or medial side of the elbow with throwing. If not treated, they may have more constant pain even at rest.
Teaching the proper technique for throwing and obeying pitch count rules that are established by the national little league organizations is the best way to prevent this injury, which can lead to long term disability. Practice and backyard pitch counts need to monitored as well. Kids who are pitching should not play catcher in the same game if they have approached their maximum pitch count. Both coaches and parents should seek this information for their children’s safety.
Shoulder impingement syndromes are common in pitchers, swimmers, and racquet sports players. They will report pain when throwing or with movement of the arm above the shoulder level. They will report shoulder pain initially with activity but if not allowed to heal they may have pain all the time.
Spondylolysis, stress fracture of the spinal vertebrae and Spondylolisthesis, which is slippage of the vertebrae present as low back pain due to either a single traumatic event or due to repetitive forces on the back from overextension, twisting, or compression. It commonly affects football players, especially linemen, gymnasts, divers, and wrestlers. Pain is worse with movement and vigorous physical activity.
The most important treatment for all of these problems is a period of rest from that particular activity or motion. For some of these symptoms it may be a few weeks of rest and for others may take a few months. Applying an icepack for 20 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day after an activity and taking ibuprofen may be helpful for the initial pain symptoms. Stretching and strengthening exercises are often helpful as well.
To lessen the chance that your child athlete will have one of these injuries, he or she should have the proper equipment, i.e. proper shoes for the activity. Their coaches should teach the proper technique. They should not overtrain. They should also have a period of time away from their dedicated sport for at least 2 to 3 months to allow their body to heal and recover. During that time they should continue with other forms of exercise or activity.
If your child athlete is having pain that you feel is due to an overuse injury, please schedule an appointment with their physician to properly diagnose and begin a treatment plan so they can recover and return to play as soon as possible. Ignoring or neglecting pain during sports activity may be a sign of serious injury that can end a sports career and cause long-term problems.
Dr. Mark Schane is a board certified pediatrician at Longmont Clinic. He can be reached at 729-494-3133.
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