By KRISTEN COPPOCK
Burlington County Times
For professional athletes making big money, sports-related injuries that develop over time may be a small sacrifice to pay for playing at the highest levels.
For children, however, these same problems can hinder growth and spell lifelong trouble if the injuries are not properly healed. And experts say the types of injuries that come from overusing body parts during sporting competitions are becoming more and more common.
According to the Children\’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), the number of children being seen by physicians for overuse injuries involving muscles, bones and joints is rising as a result of the growing number of children playing sports, both recreational and organized.
A spokeswoman for South Jersey Radiology Associates said the number of sports injuries, such as sprains and fractures, in athletes younger than 18 has quadrupled since 1995 with 3.5 million children nationally receiving medical treatment in 2003. LauraLee Munson suggested also that parents\’ encouragement and the drive that children have to succeed may be contributing to the rise in those numbers.
Dr. William Muir, a radiologist for South Jersey Radiology Associates in Evesham and Voorhees, said the growing intensity of these sport activities may be contributing to the growing reports of sports-related injuries.
\”It seems like kids are involved with more and more sports at a higher level,\” said Muir, who noted that many child athletes are \”specializing\” in one sport instead of playing a variety.
By concentrating on playing one sport continuously and at higher intensity levels, Muir said certain body parts are being overused because the same areas are repeatedly being worked. Little League pitchers, for example, are more commonly developing injuries to their elbows from repetitive throwing motions, which can damage growth plates that are still developing.
\”They can injure the growth of their elbows,\” said Muir.
Children who switch sports from season to season are less prone to overuse injuries because they\’re working different body parts for each game. Muir, who is affiliated with Virtua West Jersey Hospital Voorhees, said he sees the most overuse injuries in knees, followed by shoulders, elbows and wrists, and ankles.
Young athletes who participate in contact sports, such as football or hockey, are at a greater risk for injuries than those who play noncontact sports. \”Some of the worst injuries in kids come from soccer,\” Muir said, who explained that sport-specific movements required to play tend to wear on ligaments.
In addition to Little League elbow, there are a variety of other common types of overuse injuries in children, according to CHOP and The Nemours Foundation\’s Center for Children\’s Health. On that list are Swimmer\’s Shoulder, caused by the repeated stress of an overhead motion; Jumper\’s Knee, the inflammation of the patellar tendon; Sever\’s Disease, which is caused by the Achilles tendon being pulled on the heel bone; shin splints, caused by pain and tenderness in the shin area of the leg; and Sinding-Larsen-Johansson Disease, a fracture of the kneecap that\’s caused by repetitive movement.
Back pain due to slipped vertebra also is common in football linemen, ice skaters and gymnasts. This occurs when these athletes excessively extend the lower back. Overuse injuries also may lead to stress fractures in the bones, which are common in the feet of runners and basketball players, according to CHOP.
According to the health experts, overuse injuries in child athletes also can stem from growth spurts, inadequate warm-up techniques, excessive intensity, duration or frequency of playing, improper play techniques or unsuitable, unsafe equipment.
Muir said he would encourage any athlete not to ignore signs of pain. \”The athleticism is great for the kids,\” he said. \”But, don\’t play through the pain.\”
If a sports injury is suspected in a child, he or she should see a pediatric sports medicine specialist, who is specially trained to treat cases in young athletes.
While traditional X-rays are used to determine fractures, an MRI is a good way to determine soft tissue injuries by showing cross-sectional images of the body. Muir said the device is especially helpful to children because it does not rely on potentially harmful radiation that other machines use. Children also fit better in the machine than adults do, he said.
Once diagnosed, Muir said patients with sports injuries should allow themselves time to heal completely before going back to playing. Then, they should work up to their full potential instead of rushing to do too much too soon. High school students, he said, should listen to what their athletic trainer has to say and follow his or her advice.
According to CHOP, children\’s injuries caused by overuse can heal quickly, so long as the patient adheres to recommended activity restrictions and rehabilitation programs. Without proper healing, Muir said, \”they could have lifelong problems.\”
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