Sports injuries in children

Abstract

Sports injuries in children affect both growing bone and soft tissues, and can result in damage of growth mechanisms with subsequent lifelong growth disturbance. During growth, there are significant changes in the biomechanical properties of bone. In young athletes, as bone stiffness increases and resistance to impact diminishes, sudden overload may cause bones to bow or buckle. Epiphyseal injuries are usually due to shearing and avulsion forces, although compression also plays a significant role. Given the remarkable healing potential of bone in childhood, fractures that initially united with some deformity can completely remodel, and the bone may appear totally normal in later life. Most injuries in children’s sports are minor and self-limiting, suggesting that children and youth sports are safe. However, as the risk of injuries sustained by young athletes can be significant, training programmes should take into account their physical and psychological immaturity, so that growing athletes can adjust to their own body’s changes.