Common causes, concers, and coordinating for a cure

Abstract

The dramatic rise in organized sports participation by the young athlete has been met with an increase in significant acute and overuse injuries. The empiric observation that children and adolescents in our modern society are confronted with fewer physical stresses than their parents or grandparents is contrasted with the increasing specificity of stresses that are placed on them during current sports and athletic training activities. Children today may have less resilient and weaker muscle-tendon units and therefore face double jeopardy when confronted with specific, intense physical challenges that apply repetitive stress to unprepared tissues. There are physical and physiological differences between children and adults that may cause children to be more vulnerable to injury. Many factors contribute to these differences, including the growth process itself, vulnerability of growth cartilage to stresses, and strength and complex motor skill deficits. During times of rapid growth muscle strength and flexibility imbalances predispose the young athlete to injuries that are significant and possibly contribute to lifelong deficits. It is the objective of this lecture to review common pediatric sports injuries presenting to the clinician. A multidisciplinary team is required to address the unique needs of this expanding population. The future of pediatric sports medicine is injury prevention. Education with regard to early intervention is the key to success.