Childhood is a time filled with boundless energy, adventure, and exploration, and sports and physical activities are a huge part of the fun! They help children build strength, coordination, and social skills. But with all the running, jumping, and playing, bumps, bruises, and sometimes even more serious injuries are bound to happen.
For kids actively involved in sports, certain injuries are more common. Let’s take a closer look at five injuries pediatric physiotherapists often see, how they happen, the symptoms to watch for, and how they can be treated. Whether it’s a sprain from a soccer game or a fall from the jungle gym, understanding these injuries can help keep your little adventurer safe and healthy!
Common Injuries List:
1. Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Growing Pains in Active Kids
- What It Is:
Osgood-Schlatter disease causes pain and swelling just below the knee, where the patellar tendon connects to the shinbone. It’s a growth-related condition, often seen during growth spurts. - How It Happens:
Sports like basketball, soccer, or gymnastics—anything that involves lots of jumping or running—can stress the knee joint, causing irritation and pain. - Symptoms:
- Pain below the kneecap, especially during or after activity.
- Swelling or a noticeable bump below the knee.
- Treatment:
- Rest and avoiding activities that worsen the pain.
- Ice to reduce swelling.
- Stretching the quadriceps and hamstrings to ease tension around the knee.
2. Sever’s Disease: When Heels Hurt
- What It Is:
Sever’s disease is a common cause of heel pain in active children, particularly during growth spurts. It involves inflammation of the growth plate at the back of the heel. - How It Happens:
Sports like soccer, track, and gymnastics that require repetitive running or jumping can stress the heel bone, especially in growing kids. - Symptoms:
- Heel pain that worsens with activity.
- Tenderness at the back of the heel.
- Treatment:
- Reducing or modifying physical activity.
- Adding cushioned heel pads to shoes.
- Gentle stretching exercises for tight calf muscles.
3. Greenstick Fractures: Flexible Bones, Partial Breaks
- What It Is:
A greenstick fracture happens when a child’s bone bends and partially breaks. Unlike adult bones, kids’ bones are more flexible, so they’re prone to this type of injury. - How It Happens:
Falls from playground equipment or collisions during sports like soccer or basketball are common causes. - Symptoms:
- Pain and swelling at the site of the injury.
- Difficulty moving the affected limb.
- A visible bump or deformity in severe cases.
- Treatment:
- Immobilizing the bone with a cast or splint.
- Monitoring the bone’s healing to ensure proper alignment.
4. Little League Elbow: The Thrower’s Injury
- What It Is:
This overuse injury causes pain on the inside of the elbow due to inflammation of the growth plate in the area. It’s common in young athletes who play throwing sports like baseball, cricket, or tennis. - How It Happens:
Repetitive throwing motions stress the elbow joint, especially if proper technique isn’t used or if there’s little rest between games and practices. - Symptoms:
- Pain on the inside of the elbow, especially during or after throwing.
- Swelling and tenderness around the joint.
- Reduced throwing strength or accuracy.
- Treatment:
- Rest from throwing activities to allow healing.
- Strengthening and stretching exercises for the shoulder, arm, and elbow.
- Gradual return to sports under professional supervision.
5. Clavicle (Collarbone) Fractures: A Common Break
- What It Is:
A clavicle fracture is one of the most common bone injuries in kids, often caused by falls or direct trauma to the shoulder.
- How It Happens:
Falling onto an outstretched arm, a hard impact during football, or a bike accident can result in a broken collarbone. - Symptoms:
- Pain and swelling along the collarbone.
- Difficulty lifting the arm on the injured side.
- A visible bump or deformity in severe cases.
- Treatment:
- Immobilizing the shoulder with a sling.
- Pain management with ice and medication.
- Physiotherapy to restore strength and range of motion after healing.
Final Thought
While injuries are part of an active childhood, they don’t have to stop your child from enjoying their favorite sports and activities. Recognizing the signs early and seeking the right treatment, like pediatric physiotherapy can help kids recover quickly and safely. With proper care, they’ll be back to playing and having fun in no time!
Reference
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS). (n.d.). Preventing overuse injuries in young athletes. Retrieved from https://orthoinfo.aaos.org
Baxter-Jones, A. D., & Maffulli, N. (2003). Pediatric sports injuries in children: A guide to management and prevention. Sports Medicine, 33(2), 117-130. doi:10.2165/00007256-200333020-00004
Caine, D., Maffulli, N., & Caine, C. (2008). Epidemiology of injury in child and adolescent sports: Injury rates, risk factors, and prevention. Clinics in Sports Medicine, 27(1), 19-50. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2007.10.008
Landry, B. W., Micheli, L. J. (2016). Injury prevention in young athletes. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20162149. doi:10.1542/peds.2016-2149
Micheli, L. J., & Purcell, L. (2007). The pediatric overuse injuries: Causes, diagnosis, and treatment. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 6(6), 327-332. doi:10.1249/JSR.0b013e31815efb36
Prepared by
Lai Weng Hong
Your Physio Kepong