A common complaint pediatricians get from their young patients is pain from an overuse injury. An overuse injury will affect soft tissues, or bones and will hinder most athletes to power through with their training. Training puts stress on soft tissues and if not fully recovered will delay the injury from healing properly.This is a risk factor for young athletes because they are still developing and growing to reach skeletal maturity in their bones. Compared to adults their physeal and apophyseal tissue is very vulnerable of being overused. Being aware of how age takes a role on overuse injuries is important for proper recognition, treatment, and prevention of injury. This article reviews most common overuse injuries for young athletes with risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment. Overuse injuries cause an imbalance between training, stress on tissues and recovery duration. If this chain of inadequate recovery continues to progress the risk of cellular damage will increase and the athlete will not only experience pain from sports but also from daily living activities. It may be difficult to find the right time to start training from an injury, it could be too soon, or too much. . To properly treat an injury the athlete and family should be consulted with the factors of the athlete’s injury. The …show more content…
components for overuse injuries are age, growth spurt, and history of any chronic pain. Alos frequency of pain during or after activity, the location of pain and the severity. How is pain handled during daily living activities and if there are any swelling, decreased in the range of motion and decrease in performance? Gymnast’s wrist/distal radius epiphysiolysis Case 1 A gymnast complains of having radiating wrist pain for 2 months and had to take a break from her excessive training. This injury is caused by repeated weight bearing on a dorsiflexed wrist which means doing a lot of handstands thus putting weight on her wrist. After a physical examination, it was distinguished that the injury was from tendonitis, which caused tenderness, therefore, eliciting pain and activating the muscles around her wrist to cause major discomfort. An X-Ray is not needed to diagnose, but it can help see if there was any severe damage on the wrist. Prolonged stress on the injury without proper recovery will further damage the ligaments and tissues in that area. Treatment Absolute rest is needed and no weight bearing on wrists and any other vigorous activities. Also wearing a wrist support/brace will help reduce inflammation and help with mobility. Having physical therapy will greatly contribute because it will explain and help understand the leading cause of the biomechanical deficiencies of the injury. Depending on how advanced the case of the patient’s injury is will determine the time it takes for the injury to heal. Some may take weeks while others could take months. The athlete should slowly get back to weight bearing activities, it may be hard for some gymnast who are very eager to get back into their routine but should be cautious of the possibly re-injuring themselves. Osgood-Schlatter Disease Case 2 A 12-year-old female basketball player said she had a painful bump on her anterior knee.
The pain continues to grow as she ran, jumped and bent her knee over the swelling area. Osgood- Schlatter disease (OSD) or tibial tubercle apophysitis, occurs from repeated traction on the tibial tubercle ossification center during adolescence. Inflammation occurs at the tibial tuberosity at patellar tendon. Due to this conditions there is limited quad flexibility and strength for the individual. OSD is most common in adolescents on their apophysitis and exostosis. This means the femur bone grows faster than the quad muscles trying to attach on the distal end of the
femur. For some rare cases for patients with unresolved OSD specific management is recommended. In severe conditions if specific management is unsuccessful surgery is an option. Treatment Managing the symptoms is key to the road of recovery. Some methods can be used to reduce pain such as using a knee support/ immobilizer. Also stretching of the hamstring muscle may reduce pain by relieving tension. Physical therapy is advised because it will explain the biomechanical and muscle imbalances contributed OSD has a variety of courses depending on the athlete and the athletic activity/schedule. Anterior Knee Pain Case 3 A 14-year-old runner complains of having pain while running only, but through long-term the pain still continued to present even for walking, stairs and even sitting. She was not able to to fully push herself during her training due to the pain. Anterior knee pain ( AKP) can affect any age but is most common for adolescents. AKP is a chronic mechanical overload of anterior knee tissues and the amount of load in the knee will depend on many factors. Factors such as growth rate, alignment and neuromuscular control and overall load to the extremity. Most athletes will have trouble locating the pain and will most likely grab the front of their knee. Swelling is not common but patients would complain about a popping under the kneecap. When the knee is injured, it will affect the rest of the lower extremities. Due to the imbalance of strength and mobility the other muscles would have to compensate to help keep the rest of the body functional. There are tests to determine hip strength and stability and that is a single leg squat. Weakness is determined by valgus (knees going inward) as the pelvis rolls forward. Other tests are used to test muscle weakness for other extremities. Radiograph are used in case of anterior knee pain to distinguish the condition from any other structural or pathologic causes of pain in the knee. Treatment Treatment for AKP includes rest, physical therapy and neuromuscular re-education fitted for each athlete’s conditions. The most productive physical therapy techniques are pelvic and core stabilization, quadriceps strengthening. Also stretching the hamstrings, gastrocnemius/soleus, quadriceps and IT (iliotibial) band. The athlete should rest from any activity that will resume pain on the joint. In any case, if the athlete has mild symptoms, if workable, may proceed to engage in their sport and still have prosperous outcomes with treatment. Lastly, patellar taping and bracing may be tried but have fluctuating effectiveness. Shin Splints-- Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome Case 4 A 14-year-old cross country runner complains of a bilateral medial shin pain for the past 4 weeks and noted the pain would occur after running. Shin splints have often been identified an activity- related pain along the medial aspect of the tibia in athletes. There are various indications on what this type of injury is causing the pain. some clinicians have used the term medial tibial stress syndrome ( MTSS) and tibial stress syndrome and periostitis. The wide range of nomenclature puts up a debate over the exact diagnosis of this overuse symptom. An overall theory on how the pain occurs is from traction on the periosteum by the calf muscles with repetitive stress on weak muscles. Some risk factors such as inexperience runner, female gender, excessive subtalar pronation/navicular drop, high body mass index, and misalignment of internal and external hip rotation. Running with pain will often limit the athlete from training to the best of their ability. A physical examination is useful to identify any risk factors contributing to pain. Additional risk factors are previous stress fractures, low bone density, irregular menstrual cycle, imbalance caloric intake, calcium and vitamin D intake. X-Rays are normal in MTSS and are usually taken for a stress fracture. If there are no fracture present from the radiograph, but the risk of a stress fracture is great, an MRI will be determined.An MRI will show any serious conditions of stress injury, which helps with management. Treatment Treatment of MTTS will vary depending on the severity of the injury. There is no method that is more effective than the other. Some athletes will simply lower the frequency of training while others will need more time to rest. Immobilization of the extremity may occur in order to heal muscle tissue. Gradually getting back to normal training is advised to advance recovery. Treatment for a stress fracture will depend on the location of the fracture. In severe conditions some treatments last up to 2 - 4 months and the athlete would use crutches, walking boot or long leg stirrup. The athlete can resume activity as long as they are pain-free. Physical therapy is used to address biomechanical imbalances that may contribute to the stress injury. After recovery and the athlete has attained pain-free mobility, they can gradually return to running. Using arch support or custom shoe inserts may be helpful for athletes with subtalar overpronation, MTSS has not been proven to progress to stress fracture. Injury prevention The Preparticipation Physical Evaluation (PPE) provides a great opportunity to help athletes learn the risk of overuse injuries and aides with injury prevention. Any previous injury should be fully recovered before full participation is allowed. Screening on the PPE will acknowledge any loss of range of motion, strength, or sport-specific function which should be notified before beginning sports training. The athlete’s family should be educated with certain limitations the athlete may have due to the repetitive nature of the sport. Each individual will have specific recommendations depending on age, sport, and prior injury. Many reliable sources are available to guide clinicians and the athlete on prevention of overuse injuries. According to, to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness encourages athletes to take at least 1 or 2 days of rest a week. For a specific sports training, 2 or 3 months of rest is recommended. According to 2013 critical review since most young athletes are injured due to immature skeletal growth, it is best to fully optimize this specialization after they are fully matured. Summary All in all, skeletally premature athletes are at risk of overuse injuries, so it’s advised to have early recognition of overuse injuries in order to speed up recovery and return play. Also, rest and physical therapy are key components of treatment. The athlete should be taught on how to reduce their risk for injury both in the setting of injury treatment, as well as during Participation Physical Evaluation.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease or syndrome (OSD) is an irritation of the patellar ligament at the tibial tuberosity (Dhar). Osgood-Schlatter Disease is claimed by some to not actually be a disease (Sims). But is rather a collection of symptoms that involves the tibial tubercle epiphysis (Sims). Osgood-Schlatter Disease affects as many as 1 in 5 adolescent athletes (Diseases and Conditions: Osgood-Schlatter Disease). Some other common names for this disease are Osteochondrosis, Tibial Aponphysitis, Tibial Tubercle Apophyseal Traction Injury, Morbus Osgood- Schlatter, and Rugby Knee (Dhar). “This can cause multiple sub-acute avulsion fractures along with inflammation of the tendon, leading to excess bone growth in the tuberosity and producing a visible lump which can be very painful when hit (Dhar). Activities such as kneeling may irritate the tendon further (Dhar).”
Duff, John F. Youth Sports Injuries. A Medical Handbook for Parents and Coaches. New York: MacMillan, 1992. (pp.
Children who are active recklessly engage in activities where injuries can occur. Nobody can predict when or how seriously anybody will get injured during an activity, however, the risks of children playing tackle football is prevalent where the dangers are imminent. The game of tackle football on a youth level is dangerous for children since they are developing physically and mentally. According to an article from The Atlantic, “America’s most dangerous football is in the peewee leagues, not the National Football League” (Barra, 2013). According to a journal article, “sports injuries account for approximately 23% of pediatric emergency department injury related visits” (Podberesky, Unsell & Anton, 2009). “Of these sports injury-related
Kids are deciding by ages 9-10 they want to excel in one sport in order to win a college scholarship. Some are trading the fun and experience of diversifying between basketball, baseball, soccer, etc. for year-round football. As a result, overuse injuries are occurring at an alarming rate among these one-sport wonders.
Nation, A. D., et al. “Football-Related Injuries Among 6- to 17-Year-Olds Treated in US Emergency Departments, 1990-2007.” Clinical Pediatrics. 50.3 (2010) : 200-207. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.
Sometimes you can’t control your injury and need to get back to your sport as soon as possible. Stop exercising no matter what if you feel pain and see a doctor if the pain continues. Sometimes, it might turn out that you just have to strengthen a certain muscle group. “When you have JUST injured yourself then remember RICE…. It is sometimes extended to PRICER” (Lowry 1). PRICER is an acronym that teaches the steps to recover from an injury that may not be
While not many acute injuries, or injuries that are associated with a traumatic event can be prevented, nearly all overuse injuries can be! Nevertheless, sports medicine physicians receive training to treat any kind of injury; acute, chronic, overuses or even psychogenic pain. Sports medicine dates back to Susruta of India who was the first “recorded” physician to prescribe moderate daily exercise around 600 B.C. (Tipton). Since then, professionals have redesigned and renovated the techniques and equipment used in this field. Sports medicine physicians go through years of education and training in order to effectively treat and interact with patients, as well as thrive in any workplace they are needed.
Injuries can be common while participating in organized sports, competitions, training exercises, or fitness activities says Darice Britt. “Poor training methods, inadequate warm-up, and lack of conditioning are a few of the causes of sports injuries.” (Britt) Although on the other hand, Apostolos Theophilou, DPT, clinical coordinator of the Physical Therapist Assisting program at South University says that Injuries can be caused by a combination of those things, not necessarily the only reasons. “Fatigue and overuse are also significant contributors to an injury, and not excluding also the psychosocial aspects and dehydration that cause athletes to be prone to injuries.” (Theophilou)
When an athlete catches the sound of their knee crack and pop, they better prepare themselves for a long journey. The Center for Injury and Policy (CIRP), from Science Daily, reports that, “Knees are the most accident prone part of the body in high school athletes.” Knee injuries are very common; in fact, they are responsible for 45% of the injuries that occur in high school athletics across America. Knee injuries are well known to not just those in the medical field, but also to athletes. Injuries to the knee are caused by many factors, and what happens after the injury has taken place is what’s most concerning (Science Daily).
People have created a hectic and busy world, that includes careers and daily activities that require physical activity. While attempting to attain the required physical conditioning, people often take chances with their personal health as they try to stretch their physical limits. Sometimes, people can surpass their current limits and form new boundaries; however, other times people are not so fortunate. These unfortunate times often lead to injury, including workplace accidents, sporting incidents, disease afflictions, as well as others; any or all of which could bring about the need of rehabilitation services. Many of these require physical therapy, which includes assisting injured or otherwise impaired patients as they recover to their pre-injury status or to recover as much as is physically possible. The field of physical therapy is a choice career for those who enjoy helping people recover from injury, and the following text will provide reason for choosing this profession.
These types of injuries could take upwards to eighteen months to return to playing condition, and in this time an athlete will often fall behind in the sport that they love. This often causes the athlete to quit the sport they once loved because they can no longer truly compete amongst their peers. I know that there has to be a way to accelerate this process of recovery and get those athletes back on the field. This is where my passion for orthopaedics
Yeah! Welcome back to total Pro Sports. We could make a list hundreds of entries long that show the most graphic videos of injuries on the field. It would be pretty awful honestly, so while this list takes inventory of in-game sports injuries it doesn’t feature the terrible Paul George type things that make you walk around dog pale for the next four hours, rather these are the iconic sports injuries more akin to battle scars. They’re cool, not disturbing, at least I think so, your mileage may vary. So here are a few of the worst injuries that athletes have played through. We kept the MMA and boxing stuff off this list because those can get really graphic and we’re more looking for the kinds of injuries that produce iconic images, and now, the nine most iconic sports injuries of all time.
In order to fully understand the impact and effect of overtraining, defining and establishing the difference of what overtraining is from other conditions, such as overreaching, is necessary. Overtraining is defined as the accumulation of both training and non-training stresses producing a long-term effect on the athlete’s performance capacity, with or without physical and psychological overtraining signs and symptoms in which recovery of the performance capacity will take weeks to months (Halson, 2004 p. 969). Overreaching, however, is defined by the accumulation of training and non-training stresses with a short-term effect on the a...
Recovering from an injury can indeed be a difficult process and athletes must wait for however long in able to play the sport again. During that duration of time, the idea of waiting and not performing can sometimes cause an athlete to feel angry, to be in denial, and
Football is one of the most popular and most viewed sports in the nation; people of every race and ethnicity love to watch the game of football, but when playing this sport, participants must always account for injuries that occur such as ligament tears and brain, neck, and spinal injuries, all of which can produce short and long term effects on a player’s life.