Preventing Sports Injuries
The key to preventing future sports injuries is to identify risk factors and make changes before the athlete suffers an acute injury or establishes patterns that can cause overuse injuries.
A lack of preseason conditioning and preparation is a significant risk factor contributing to sports injuries. Young athletes often begin intense, competitive sports participation after being inactive for months. They are often unprepared for the intense activity that is expected of them at the beginning of the season.
Other risk factors for young athletes include:
- Lack of pre-participation physical exams
- Hazardous playing fields
- Conditioning and training errors
- Lack of, improper, poorly fitted or inadequate safety equipment
- Playing while injured or overtired
- Declining fitness levels of children
- Grouping teams by age instead of size
- Poor nutrition
- Improper technique (e.g., in tennis, improper swing can lead to tennis injury)
- Inadequate supervision
- Psychological stress
- Weather conditions
- Growth (e.g., bones grow faster than ligaments and tendons; inflexibility can lead to injury)
- Lack of rules and officials
The specialists at The Children’s Hospital can help evaluate a young athlete for risk factors and establish a plan to ensure their safe return to a sport.
Shine Newsletter Articles
The following articles from our Shine Newsletter will provide you with additional information and resources to help you protect your young athlete from injury.
Protect Your Young Athlete
Safety First
