Pediatric Sports-Related Injuries

At any time there are millions of athletes ages 6 to 18 years participating in sports-related activities and the number is increasing. Unfortunately, the number of overuse injuries is also on the rise. This increase is most likely associated with single-sport specialization before the onset of puberty. As physicians and health care providers, we must educate these young athletes, their parents, and coaches to ensure safety. Short breaks are recommended and everyone involved should understand the athlete should not train more than 5 days per week and must take off 2 to 4 months per year consecutively depending on the specific sport and position on the team. To understand the complexity of these overuse injuries, it is important to have knowledge of the unique characteristics of the immature musculoskeletal system, periods of rapid growth, and the function of the growth plate, which is often involved in these injuries.