Newsletter42-Playing through

Newsletter42-Playing through

 

Newsletter.jpgSpring 2011
Volume 14 Number 1

Playing Through the Pain:  Gain, Bane or Insane?

I'm lucky to be able to see and help PIP's growing athletes and artists. More and more, though, I'm seeing them because of overuse injuries. Overuse injury in children and adolescents is a rapidly growing problem in our clinic and across the U.S. 

We know that 30 to 45 million American youth between 6 and 18 years old participate in some sort of athletics and at least 3.5 million injuries occur yearly requiring medical care. More than half of these injuries are due to overuse.

Overuse injuries are caused simply by playing too much.  They occur with repeated, prolonged motion or impact. They range from strains and sprains that don't heal to tendonitis and stress fractures.

A unique problem seen in growing children involves a stress fracture-like injury to the bone growth plate. This is an area of rapid bone growth commonly at the end of long bones such as the arms or legs. This growing area is weaker than surrounding bone and susceptible to injury.

These injuries go by the names of Osgood-Schlatter (knee), Sinding-Larsen-Johansson (kneecap), Sever's syndrome (ankle) and Little League elbow. These injuries can cause significant pain but most heal without long term problems if  given rest. 

Certain competitive programs can make these kinds of injuries more likely. They include:

  • Sports with frequent practices or games
  • Programs with demanding training schedules
  • Sports with frequent weekend tournaments
  • Programs requiring year-round play Multiple specialized camps
  • Playing on multiple teams

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends limiting one sporting activity to a maximum of five days per week with at least one day off.  In addition, athletes should have at least two to three months off per year from a single sport during which they can heal injuries, refresh the mind and work on strength and conditioning.

Most overuse injuries can be prevented.  Here are some tips on how your child can avoid them:

  • Choose age appropriate sports; children should be at least six years old before playing team sports
  • Get into shape gradually; rapid changes in level and intensity of practice and play can cause injuries.
  • Always prepare and end with warm-up and cool-down exercises.
  • Reduce or take time off from playing if tired or in pain
  • Stay well hydrated by drinking enough water or sports drink: not energy drinks!!
  • Wear shoes and equipment that fit well and are in good condition.
  • Multi-sport athletes tend to have the best long term fitness and mental health; 75 percent of single sport 9-year-olds are not in that sport at age 14!

--Gary Nichols, MD

Dr. Nichols is Partners in Pediatrics' sports guru.  He is board-certified in both pediatrics and sports medicine.  Dr. Nichols sees patients at our Plymouth office for a variety of sports ailments, overuse injuries included.