Overuse to blame for top sports injuries in kids

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Overuse is to blame for up to half of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine, says a new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Jeffrey Vaughn, DO, a pediatric-trained sports medicine specialist and orthopaedic surgeon is the director of the Phoenix Children’s Sports Medicine Program, part of the Center for Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery.

According to Dr. Vaughn, the most common sports injuries come from soccer, gymnastics, dance, football, baseball, and swimming (shoulder instability). Dr. Vaughn explains.  “We are seeing injuries that are one, unique to kids, and two, that we used to see more commonly in adults that now we’re seeing in kids, but the difference is, kids are still growing.”

The most common injuries Vaughn treats include ACL injuries. “This is a really big one, especially in young female athletes. I teach them how to prevent this by warming up correctly and properly developing the leg muscles,” says Vaughn. Other common injuries for young athletes include shoulder instability, cartilage lesions or tears and elbow injuries. “These injuries happen more often because children are playing competitive sports more frequently.”

Common Injuries/Conditions

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• ACL tears
• Shoulder instability
• Cartilage tears
• Cartilage lesions
• Concussions
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• Obesity
• Diabetes
• Turf toe
• Dance injuries to the hip, foot, and ankle
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• Over-use injuries
• Kneecap dislocation
• Stress fractures

Simple ways to prevent many sports related injuries include wearing protective gear, such as helmets, protective pads, and other gear. Another way to prevent injuries is properly warming up large muscles groups prior to exercise. Athletes are encouraged not to play when injured and to seek medical attention.

Musculoskeletal injuries in children and teens are far different from similar conditions in the adult population, Dr. Vaughn explains. Young athletes are still growing and require the expertise, knowledge, and sophistication of sports medicine professionals who are specifically trained to care for this unique population. Through a comprehensive assessment, treatment, and follow-up care model, children and adolescents are provided the support and treatment they need to recover, heal, and participate in physical activity.

Phoenix Children’s Sports Medicine Program
Phoenix Children’s Sports Medicine Program, part of the Center for Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery, supports young athletes by teaching them ways to avoid injury during physical activity, offering non-operative care to children and adolescents who have been hurt, and providing surgical services for musculoskeletal injuries that cannot be treated by rehabilitation alone. For more information call 602-546-0264.

About Phoenix Children’s Hospital
Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class care in more than 40 pediatric specialties to our state’s sickest kids. Though Phoenix Children’s is one of the ten largest freestanding children’s hospitals in the country, rapid population growth in Arizona means the Hospital must grow as well. Phoenix Children’s recently announced a $588 million expansion plan to bring its special brand of family-centered care to even more patients and families. The plan includes a significant upgrade of the Hospital’s current campus, an aggressive physician recruitment effort, and new satellite centers in high growth areas of the Valley. For more information, visit the Hospital’s Web site at www.phoenixchildrens.com.

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