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Sofía González
2023-04-18 |
There is a broad spectrum of injuries due to sports, from a bruise to fractures, rupture of ligaments or muscles.
Injuries among athletes fall into two basic categories: overuse injuries and acute injuries. Both types include injuries to the soft tissues (muscles and ligaments) and bones.
Acute injuries are caused by a sudden trauma. Examples of trauma include collisions with obstacles on the field or between players. Common acute injuries among young athletes include contusions (bruises), sprains (a partial or complete tear of a ligament), strains (a partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon), fractures (broken bones) and concussions.
Overuse injuries occur gradually over time, when an athletic activity is repeated so often that parts of the body do not have enough time to heal between playing.
Overuse injuries can affect muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and growth plates. For example:
- Overhand pitching in baseball can be associated with injuries to the elbow and shoulder.
- Swimming is often associated with injuries to the shoulder.
- Gymnastics and cheerleading are two common activities associated with injuries to the wrist and elbow.
Whether an injury is acute or due to overuse, a high school athlete who develops a symptom that persists or that affects his or her athletic performance should be examined by a doctor. Untreated injuries could lead to worse injury, permanent damage or disability.
Athletes often downplay their symptoms in order to continue playing. Coaches and parents should be aware of the more common signs of injury, such as pain with activity, changes in form or technique, pain at night, and decreased interest in or ability to practice.
It is important for players, parents, and coaches to understand that, depending on the type of injury and treatment required, the young athlete may not be able to return to the game at the same level of play—no matter how much effort is put into injury rehabilitation.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. "High School Sports Injuries". OrthoInfo. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/high-school-sports-injuries/. Accessed 18 April18 2023.
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