Common Overuse Injuries in the Pediatric and Adolescent Athlete

There are approximately 30 to 35 million children participating in organized sports in the United States. With this increasing participation, we have seen an overall increase in sports-related injuries in young athletes over the past 20 years. Young athletes suffer both acute and chronic, or overuse, injuries. They are susceptible to many of the same injuries as their adult counterparts; but because of the effects of growth on the musculoskeletal system, they are at risk for injuries to the growth plate, apophysis, and joint surface as well. Overuse injuries can be hard to diagnose because of the lack of radiographic findings and overt abnormalities on physical examination in many patients. In addition, they can be a challenge to treat, especially in athletes who wish to continue participating in their sport. Common overuse injuries seen in young athletes will be discussed.

Keywords: overuse injuries, pediatric athlete, apophysitis, stress fracture, tendonitis, epiphysiolytis, patellofemoral pain syndrome