Christina Morganti, MDSports and Shoulder Surgery

Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

cmorganti@osmc.net

Lost time from play in the short term

Pain/discomfort Mental

anguish/anxiety Disruption of usual

“routine” including socialization

Potential for long term consequences

The Problem

• 30 million children participate in organized sports (Source: Safe Kids USA)

• Participation in high school athletics is increasing, with more than 7.3 million high school students participating annually (Source: National Federation of State High School Associations)

• High school athletics account for more than 2 million injuries annually, (including 30,000 hospitalizations); Half of these are overuse injuries (Source: Centers for Disease Control)

• Young athletes are specializing in sports (and positions)

at an earlier age.

The Lasting Problem – Part 2

70% of kids participating in sports drop out by the age of 13 because of• Adults• Coaches• Parents

These children lose the benefits of exercise, teamwork and healthy competition!

Sports Trauma and Overuse

Prevention

-Attention to Safety -Protective equipment -Technique changes -Rules changes

Physiologic benefits to skeletal health, lean mass, neuromuscular coordination.

Psychologic benefits to self esteem, general sense of well being.

Social benefits from the culture of healthy living and camaraderie, “stay out of trouble”, plan for future.

Kids are different physiologically, mentally, socially from adults.

Changing at a rapid rate

“Formative years” Habits formed may last

a lifetime. Injury may have long

term consequences

Physis= growth plate Apophysis Vulnerable

points, “weak link” Injury can lead to

deformity “Growth spurt” issue Shape of bones

Times are different and still changing.

Shear numbers of participants growing

Intensity of competition increasing.

Free-play time decreasing.

Sedentary time increasing, “indoor distractions”.

Different kinds of kids.

Low, medium, and high.

What is the general level of fitness?

Training allows for the adaption of structures to accommodate the typical load applied to the structure.

The load may be too high for the strength of the structure.

The strength may be too low to tolerate the load applied.

strength

load

Overuse injuries constitute the majority of youth sports injuries.

Overuse injuries can be avoided by adjustments in training regimen, based on individual needs of the athlete.

Think about improving the general level of conditioning of the athlete and good training habits/technique as well as sports-specific skills.

www.STOPSportsInjuries.org www.orthoinfo.org www.nata.org www.sportsmed.org www.SAFEKids.org