Year-Round Youth Sports Increase Injury Risk

Many sports-related injuries can lead to more injuries down the road, and this is just as true in youth and high school sports. 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 by 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 aged 14 and younger are treated for sports injuries. Our experts offer 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 of the upper extremity or to seek treatment, contact our sports medicine specialists at The Hand & Upper Extremity Center of Georgia. Call (404) 255-0226 or request an appointment online.