Injuries to professional athletes such as Tom Brady (ACL, MCL) and Kobe Bryant (finger) are frequent headline news. Yet injuries to the fastest growing population of athletes, children between the ages of 9-18, seldom make the headlines. According to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 38% of children aged 9-13 participate in a physical activity with an organized group that has a coach, instructor, or leader. An estimated 7.2 million high school students participated in high school sports in 2005-2006–almost twice as many students compared to1971-1972. They experienced an estimated 2 million injuries, with 30,000 requiring hospitalizations.

Injuries to pediatric athletes have increased in number over the years as children are being pushed to specialize in one sport year-round. It is no longer unusual for kids to play in club sports and travel teams, and attend camps during the summer and winter breaks. Playing at these elite levels puts them at risk for overuse injuries.

When children play different sports throughout the year, they use different body parts and movements, which reduces the risk of injuries, especially from overuse. Overuse injuries account for upwards of 90% of adolescent sports related injuries, according to some studies.

Whether involved in one sport year-round or multiple sports throughout the year, an off season is necessary to allow the body to recover. Rest and recovery is important for all athletes, but especially for young athletes going through growth spurts. Injuries can interfere significantly with growth and development, as can caloric restriction (gymnastics, wrestling) and heavy weightlifting.

Overuse injuries are also coming from poor coaching, “win at all costs” attitude, and trying to play through an injury. Parents and coaches seem to forget that sports-especially for children-should be fun, not work. Too often, the “play” is left out of playing sports.

Injuries can affect children much differently than adults-both physically and emotionally. In part II of our pediatric athlete series, we will discuss pediatric injuries from a medical viewpoint.