interview with an orthopaedic surgeon

Dr. Lance Macey

How common are sports injuries in kids?

Over 800,000 kids age 14 and younger are treated in the Emergency Room each year for sports related injuries.

What is the most common Sports injury in kids?

Overuse injuries make up 30-50% of injuries in children. This is most common in gymnastics, dancing, baseball, running, and swimming because of the repetitive motions involved.

 

 

Are there specific types of those injuries?

Yes- commonly involved body parts include the knee, shoulder, foot, and hip.

Can these injuries be prevented?

It is believed that half of all sports injuries in kids can be prevented.

How can they be prevented?

1) Be sure that proper protective equipment such as helmets, mouth guards, face masks, shin guards, and other pads are used

2) Be sure the equipment meets accepted standards for safety and is in good condition

3) Proper conditioning and training of the athlete with good warm-up and cool down

4) Treat injuries early to prevent re-injury.

5) Exercises

Why are overuse injuries so common?

In part because of a “no pain, no gain” attitude while striving to improve.

How do ligament injuries occur?

Remember ligaments attach to bones. When a muscle excessive force is applied to the two bones the connecting ligament can stretch or tear.

How do tendon injuries occur?

Remember tendons connect muscle to bones. When a muscle contracts violently it can tear the tendon from the bone.

What are the symptoms of a tendon injury?

Pain over the tendon. Sometimes the tendon tear results in the ability to move a joint, for example, quadriceps tendon tear results in the inability to straighten the knee no matter how hard you try.

What are the most common hip injuries?

Pelvic Avulsion Fractures. These are most common in boys between 12 and 14. They occur as a result of sudden forceful muscle contraction such as kicking a ball. The contraction results in pulling off a piece of bone where the muscle attaches to the hip.

What are the treatments?

Crutches, anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and rest from the sport for up to three months. Rarely surgery is required to reattach to the bone.

What causes an Achilles tendon tear?

Usually a violent push off of your toes such as sudden sprint or attempt to jump.

What are the symptoms of Achilles tendon tear?

Most commonly the victim reports he or she thought they were kicked in the heel from behind when in reality there was no one there.

What is Hip Pointer?

It is a very painful injury to the hip caused by a direct blow to the iliac crest of the pelvis which is the boney protrusion over your waist. This creates bleeding into your abdominal muscles which results in pain to talk, laugh, breath or cough.

What sports does it happen in?

Football and Soccer most commonly, as a result of a direct hit from a helmet or hard fall to the ground.

How is Hip Pointer treated?

Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications

Are there specific types of those injuries?

Yes, commonly involved body parts include the knee, shoulder, foot, and hip.