Overuse injury is the result of cumulative, repetitive stress. When a young athlete trains, practices and play games, they use the same muscle groups and joints thousands of times. This constant physical effort can outpace the body’s ability to repair itself. Without taking time for rest and recovery, micro-trauma starts to affect the muscles and bones leading to pain and inflammation.
Fact: Roughly 62% of all organized sports injuries happen during practice sessions rather than in actual games.
Sever’s Disease
Is a common cause of heel pain in growing children (typically ages 8–14) caused by inflammation of the heel growth plate due to repetitive stress, especially after running or jumping. It is often seen in young soccer and basketball players.
Shin Splints
Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, is a common injury caused by repetitive stress to the muscles, tendons, and tissues associated with the shin bone. Shin splints are common in teen athletes who participate in sports that require distance running, like cross country or soccer, or running and jumping on hard surfaces, like basketball.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Is caused by constant, repetitive pulling of the patellar tendon on the tibial tubercle causing pain, swelling and irritation. It occurs in active children and teen athletes (typically ages 10-15) during intense sports, such as soccer, basketball, gymnastics, or ballet.
Little League Elbow
Little League elbow is a common overuse injury in young throwers (typically ages 8–14) caused by repetitive stress on the growth plate on the inside of the elbow. Symptoms include pain and swelling in the inner elbow. Pitchers are at highest risk, followed by catchers.
Swimmer’s Shoulder
Swimmer’s shoulder is a common overuse injury, often termed.
impingement syndrome, caused by inflammation of the rotator cuff tendons from repetitive overhead motions, leading to pain, weakness, and reduced range of motion.
Jumper’s Knee
Jumper’s knee (patellar tendinopathy) in young athletes is an overuse injury causing pain in the tendon below the kneecap, common in jumping/running sports like basketball, volleyball, and soccer.
Warning signs include:
It is important to take your child to pediatric specialists who are experts in treating only kids. At Children’s Orthopaedic and Scoliosis Surgery Associates, LLP our board certified, fellowship trained, specialists provide the best child-friendly care using the latest cutting-edge technology that results in the safest and most accurate outcomes. Please call our office at (727) 898-2663 to schedule an appointment.
Medically reviewed by Drew E. Warnick, MD Board Certified Orthopaedic Surgeon.
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