Volume 17, No. 2, Spring 2009
Sports may be important for building healthy bodies, confidence and self esteem. But, for children and teens, more is not necessarily better. In fact, constant participation in sports can lead to injury. Across the country, healthcare providers are concerned about the rising rates of injuries, including concussions.
At Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape and Islands, rehabilitation physicians and therapists regularly treat sports injuries due to overuse and trauma. “Stress fractures, tendonitis, meniscal tears, patella tracking issues, sprains and ACL tears are among the injuries we see in our pre-teen and teen patients,” Laurie Keating, Physical Therapy Assistant and Certified Athletic Trainer, points out.
As with adults, most of these injuries are caused by overusing muscles, notes Karen Bryant, physical therapist who has treated dancers with the Boston Ballet. The difference is that “children’s bodies are still developing, and that makes them more vulnerable to overuse injuries.”
One factor in the increase of sports injuries is that many more kids are playing the same sport year-round, without a break in between. Switching sports as the seasons changed gave young players a chance to use different muscle groups and recover from injuries, but today’s indoor sports arenas make many seasonal sports available throughout the year. “Overusing muscles and tendons can put stress on growing bones, potentially resulting in painful microtraumas or stress fractures,” Ms. Bryant says.
Children’s sports are more competitive, too. “Sometimes kids are hesitant to take time off, so the tendonitis that might have resolved with rest only gets worse,” she adds.
Other issues also contribute to injuries. “Stretching and conditioning should be part of preparation for any sport,” Ms. Keating says. “And we need to keep the pace of training consistent with the rate of growth. Sometimes muscles need time to catch up with the long bones.”
It’s also critical that coaches teach young players the proper techniques for the sport and ensure that players are using well-maintained and properly fitting equipment. “A running sneaker is not necessarily the best option for football or baseball,” she explains.
Kids also need time to be kids…and not simply for the fun of it. “They’re in so many structured activities now,” Ms. Keating says. “When they’re just running, jumping, climbing they use more muscle groups and are not as prone to overuse injuries.”
Players also should stretch before and after exercising or competing, agrees Jim McNamara, MSPT, Director of Ambulatory Services at RHJCI who has treated professional athletes and nationally ranked gymnasts. And they also need to stay hydrated.
“If you don’t adequately hydrate muscles, they are more prone to injury such as tendonitis. The rule of thumb is drink before and during activity. If you wait until you’re thirsty, it’s already too late,” Mr. McNamara warned.
Injuries related to repetitive use often are minor and will get better if the affected areas are allowed to rest. The acronym RICE (rest, ice, compress and elevate) describes treatment for minor strains and sprains. “But if the child isn’t getting better, then see a doctor,” says Dr. Andrew Judelson, rehabilitation physician. “Untreated, injuries can become serious and need physical therapy or other treatments. The idea of playing through pain reflects uneducated coaching and is just not appropriate, especially for children.”
Of course, serious injuries need to be evaluated by a physician right away, preferably within 24 to 48 hours, he adds. And, if physical therapy is needed, the sooner the better. That’s why RHCI recently added therapists at its Sandwich and Yarmouth outpatient locations and extended hours just to accommodate patients with acute injuries.
Some more tips from the RHCI staff on playing safely: