Kids Aren't Invincible! Sports Injuries in Children: Overuse Injuries - Morley Physiotherapy Centre

1. Kids Aren't Invincible! Sports Injuries in Children: Preventing Overuse Injuries

2. A trend in Australian culture has evolved over the last 25 years that encourages a high rate of young children participating in sporting and physical activity programmes. Although the health benefits of sports participation is well understood, too much activity can lead to injury, with 50% of all sports injuries in children and adolescents being from overuse.

3. What is an Overuse Injury? • Unlike acute or sudden-onset types of injuries which are the result of a single traumatic event, overuse injuries are common in children, particularly during periods of growth and intense physical training. • The most common overuse injuries affect the knee, shin and foot, with injury associated with signs of pain and localised swelling which restricts performance and technique. • Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive microtrauma to muscles,tendons, bones, growth plates and ligaments. The most common cause of overuse injuries is over-training with emphasis on competitiveness, intensive training, inadequate rest, and sport specialisation( year round training in one sport) from a young age. • Risks associated with sport specialisation include physical, emotional and social problems, with burnout, depression, anxiety, and high attrition rates increased in athletes who focus on singular sports. Common sports that often encourage early specialisation, intensive training and competition include gymnastics, figure skating, diving and any sport that require greater hours of of organised training per week than a child's age in years.

4. Common Overuse Injuries include: • Swimmer’s shoulder • Youth pitching elbow(Medial Apophysitis) • Jumper’s knee • Shin splints • Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease • Sever’s Disease • Stress Reaction in Growth Plates • Strains and Sprains

5. How are Overuse Injuries Treated? • In most cases, the physiotherapy treatment provided for acute and overuse injuries is similar with an emphasis on soft-tissue recovery and restoration of pain free movement and strength. • For injured athletes, especially those who are still in the growing years, proper assessment and advice from a physiotherapist is vital if pain symptoms are persisting.

6. Preventing Overuse Injuries • It is possible to prevent overuse injuries. A reasonable fitness level should be maintained during the season and off-season, with a focus on sport participation that is fun and age appropriate. When-ever possible a period of pre-season training is important to develop general and sport specific conditioning. • Children should be encouraged to try a variety of sports before puberty with regular rest days to permit them to recover physically and mentally. • Growing children also have special dietary requirements and benefit from food intake rich in iron, calcium and energy. • Overuse injuries can also be prevented by working with a physiotherapist who can provide a comprehensive musculoskeletal assessment to identify common risk factors,such as muscle imbalance (tightness or weakness), and develop an exercise program that suits the injury and the individual needs.

7. If you think that your child may be suffering from an overuse injury, contact Morley Physio today. Phone: 9375 3900 Email: admin@morleyphysio.com.au