By Chris Byers, PT, Advanced Rehab and Sports Medicine
Youth sports are all the rage for us adults. Yes, I said for us adults, as we are still in charge of our children’s activities, right? Do our children love to play 50 baseball or softball games a summer, and play it spring, summer and fall? Do our children love year-round basketball or volleyball? We used to play one sport each season, but that has morphed into sometimes playing 2-3 sports at the same time. As parents, have we asked our kids if that is what they really want? Have we assured them that we won’t be disappointed if it is not? Have we even made a “rule” that you only play one sport per season?
Following is some hard data about the escalation of youth sports and the cost to our kids in the form of injuries.
• More than 46.5 million children participate in sports each year in the United States. Approximately 20 million children take part in recreational or competitive sports outside of school.
• Approximately 20 percent of children participating in sports activities are injured each year, and 1 injury in 4 is considered serious.
• More than 775,000 children, ages 14 and under, are treated in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries each year. Most of the injuries occurred as a result of falls, being struck by an object, collisions, and overexertion during unorganized or informal sports activities.
• Children between 5 and 14 years of age account for almost half (40 percent) of sports-related injuries for all age groups.
• Most organized sports-related injuries (62 percent) occur during practice rather than in games.
• The most common types of sports-related injuries among children are sprains, muscle strains, bone or growth plate injuries, repetitive motion injuries and heat-related illness.
• Children who are just beginning a sport or activity are at greater risk for injury.
• Severity of sports-related injuries increases with age.
• Before puberty, girls and boys suffer the same risk of sports injuries.
• During puberty, boys suffer more severe injuries than girls.
• Girls are up to eight times more likely to have an ACL injury than boys
So what do all of these fun facts tell us? To pay attention and be aware! While we are not going to slow down the youth sport train, as it is still accelerating, we can be better educated on the risks and the signs of injuries and plain old fatigue in our kids. We can advocate for our kids’ safety and health instead of filling out more sign-up sheets. Here are some guidelines we can live by and look for:
• Pain that cannot be tied to an acute injury, such as from a fall. The pain often increases with activity
• Swelling at a joint or in a limb
• Changes in form or technique
• Decreased interest in practice
• General fatigue and loss of interaction with others
• Falling asleep frequently during daytime
• Decrease in level of performance.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons educates parents, coaches, and athletes about how to prevent overuse injuries. Specific tips to prevent overuse injuries include:
• Limit the number of teams in which your child is playing in one season. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries.
• Do not allow your child to play one sport year round. Taking regular breaks and playing other sports is essential to skill development and injury prevention.
Youth sports can be a healthy way to stay fit and learn many life lessons. But they can also put our children at risk of injury and in some cases long term health problems. Because young athletes are still growing, they are at a greater risk for injury than adults. The consequences of overdoing a sport can include injuries that impair growth, and may lead to long-term health problems.
So as the youth sports are in full swing this summer and fall, parents need to be supportive, but not too demanding. Be ever alert for changes in the mental or physical behavior of your child which could indicate injury or fatigue that often leads to injury. And most of all don’t be afraid to advocate for the well-being of your child and give them an occasional “time-out.” Here is to a terrific summer and fall on the diamond, in the gym, or at the field!
For more information, you may contact Advanced Rehab & Sports Medicine at 309-664-9104 or www.advrehab.com. Their office is located at 135 N. Williamsburg Dr. in Bloomington. Free assessments are offered within 24 hours of contact for patients of all ages.
Sources: American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS.org), www.safekids.org, www.nationwidechildrens.org.
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