Sports Overuse Injuries What Parents and Coaches Need to Know
As the weather warms, more kids are outdoors playing team sports. While it’s all fun and games, it is also important to keep in mind the potential for kids to strain or injure themselves as they exert themselves on the field.
Each year, approximately one million emergency room visits are made for a sports related injury. The vast majority of these visits are overuse injuries, which has risen dramatically to the point of becoming an epidemic.
Overuse injuries are the result of repetitive trauma to muscle, tendons, ligaments, bones, or joints with an inadequate amount of healing time between episodes. The key to treating overuse injuries is prevention and early recognition to avoid irreversible damage.
Preseason Training
Injury prevention begins with a preseason conditioning and training program. Preseason training should involve both an endurance and strengthening program. While there are different sports-specific exercises, all programs should include a cross training program which places different types of stress throughout the body including the abdominal and back muscles which make up the core. These core muscles are the power generator in most athletic activities, and weakness in these muscles often leads to injuries in the extremities. When beginning a conditioning program, the intensity of the program (i.e. duration, repetitions, weight, distance) should never increase more than 10 percent a week. Preseason training should also include an aerobic component such as running, to help build endurance and stamina.
Injury Prevention
Before and after any sporting activity, it is important that kids do a stretching and warm up or cool down program. This should include stretches for the entire body. Each stretch should be held for at least 30 seconds.
Young athletes should avoid yearlong sports and should have a break of at least six to eight weeks between seasons. During the season, young athletes should have at least one to two days off per week. Participating in multiple leagues or teams during the season does not allow adequate time for recovery.
Treatment
Once an overuse injury does occur, it’s best treated by rest and avoidance of the aggravating activity. Ice and an anti-inflammatory are also helpful in managing the pain and swelling. A sports medicine specialist should evaluate an athlete if symptoms last for more than a day, if there are limitations in motion or ability to bear weight, or if there is persistent swelling at the site of injury. Most injuries can be diagnosed based on history and physical exam. For more significant injuries an MRI may be required. If an overuse injury is diagnosed and treated early enough, the vast majority can be treated without surgery.
Tony Wanich, M.D., is a sports medicine specialist in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Montefiore Medical Center.
Timely Tips
• Overuse injuries result from repetitive trauma without an adequate time to recover.
• Prevention is the key and includes a preseason training program followed by a regular stretching program before and after activity.
• During the season, young athletes need one to two days off per week, and between seasons a prolonged break of six to eight weeks.
More is not better, avoid playing for multiple teams during the season.
• Injuries can be initially treated with rest, ice and an anti-inflammatory, but if they fail to resolve after a day, consult a healthcare professional.
