Inspire, Summer 2012

Keep Your Teen Athlete Healthy by Dominic McKinley ’92, M.D., CAQ The drive to compete and be the best in their chosen sport has produced some tremendous young athletes. This pursuit, however, has also produced some unintended consequences of overuse injuries in children and teens. The push for young athletes to travel and play a particular sport without an adequate rest period has not only led to mental fatigue but also to a rise in injuries once primarily seen in adult athletes. This is consistent with the Center for Disease Control estimating half of sports injuries are preventable and, in part, related to overuse activity. An overuse injury is caused by a repetitive activity or motion which leads to fatigue or stress of a particular part of the body (most commonly in the shoulder, elbow, back, foot, or shin). I refer to this as “the paper clip theory.” If you take a normal paper clip, unwind it and bend it back and forth at a single point, it will eventually break. Any young athlete is at risk, but the most common overuse injuries occur in baseball, soccer, gymnastics/competitive cheerleading, dance, basketball, and swimming. Athletes typically present after three–six weeks of symptoms, which may include pain after activity, pain during activity that does not restrict performance, pain during activity that does restrict performance, and chronic pain even at rest. Know the Risks There are some risk factors that cannot be minimized, such as going through a growth spurt, prior injury, or anatomic malalignment. There are other risk factors that can be minimized with adequate information. Doing too much too soon after an injury, for example, puts a teen athlete at risk for additional injury. Other changeable risk factors include inadequate rest, poor nutrition and hydration, inferior or worn-out athletic gear, poor technique, training on uneven or hard surfaces, menstrual dysfunction, psychological factors, and pressure from parents or coaches. Prevention is key to avoiding overuse injuries. Athletes, parents, and coaches can reduce the risk of overuse injuries by following these guidelines: • Start with a gradual training program. • Allow time for adequate recovery between workouts (one or two days off per week). • Consider an individualized training program. • Educate yourself about overuse injuries (this applies to parents, athletes, and coaches). • Use appropriate equipment. • Vary your workout routine. • Schedule a one-week break from training and competition every two to three months. • Plan at least two or three months per year of rest from a particular sport. Like to … CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY 21