Your Health Connection magazine
September 2010
During his teens, Josh Spiker's Olympic dreams were almost crushed. The Ventura native was running extensively and playing soccer when he contracted tendinitis in his knee and two tibial stress fractures.
Sports injuries like these are hardly uncommon. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) estimates that out of the 30 million children in the United States who participate in organized sports, more than 3.5 million receive medical treatment for injuries.
After taking some time off for cross training and recovery, Spiker was back on his feet. In 2004, the 28-year-old earned a spot in the 2004 Olympic trials for the 1,500-meter dash and in 2009, he prevailed in the Carlsbad Marathon.
Causes
Medical professionals are concerned today that there seems to be an increasing number of children who specialize in a sport too early, who train in one sport year-round or who compete at an “elite” level. The potential risks of over-training may include musculoskeletal injuries, psychosocial development and heat stress.
Spiker is cognizant of over-training and careful not to repeat the same mistake in his attempt to qualify for the upcoming Olympic marathon trials. He recalls, “I think I built up my mileage too soon and on hard surfaces. I believe my recovery time in between was also insufficient.”
After taking some time off for cross training and recovery, Spiker was back on his feet. In 2004, the 28-year-old earned a spot in the 2004 Olympic trials for the 1,500-meter dash and in 2009, he prevailed in the Carlsbad Marathon.
Causes
Medical professionals are concerned today that there seems to be an increasing number of children who specialize in a sport too early, who train in one sport year-round or who compete at an “elite” level. The potential risks of over-training may include musculoskeletal injuries, psychosocial development and heat stress.
Spiker is cognizant of over-training and careful not to repeat the same mistake in his attempt to qualify for the upcoming Olympic marathon trials. He recalls, “I think I built up my mileage too soon and on hard surfaces. I believe my recovery time in between was also insufficient.”
Common Injuries
Acute or traumatic injuries are sudden and may include severe pain, swelling, a visible dislocation, an extreme limb weakness and an inability to move, among other symptoms.
Acute or traumatic injuries are sudden and may include severe pain, swelling, a visible dislocation, an extreme limb weakness and an inability to move, among other symptoms.
Examples:
- Fracture – a crack, break or shattering of a bone
- Bruise or contusion – caused by a direct blow, which may lead to swelling or bleeding
- Strain – a stretch or tear of a muscle or tendon
- Sprain – a stretch or tear of a ligament
- Abrasion – a scrape
- Laceration – a cut in the skin that may require stitches.
Well-trained and safety-conscious instructors are key to keeping injury rates low, says professional martial arts instructor Jason Flame. “Even with the intensity associated with it [martial arts], the most serious we would get are bruises, bumps and strained muscles,” says Flame, who owns Tang Soo Do University in Moorpark and Newbury Park.
Overuse or chronic injuries happen over a period of time, often as a result of repetitive training using one area of the body. The signs of a chronic injury may include swelling, a dull ache when at rest or pain during an activity.
Many athletes confuse soreness and chronic pain. Soreness is temporary while chronic pain persists for an extended period of time. “Musculoskeletal pain should be treated early, to avoid being chronic,” says Dr. Daniel Davis, an orthopedic surgeon in Simi Valley.
Examples:
- Stress fractures – tiny cracks in the bone’s surface caused by repetitive overloading
- Tendinitis – inflammation of the tendon caused by repetitive stretching
- Shoulder impingement – results from pressure on the rotator cuff from part of the shoulder blade (scapula) as the arm is lifted.
Erin Howard is familiar with shoulder impingement and other routine swimming injuries. A competitive swimmer since she was 4 years old, Howard was advised to stop swimming after a bout with injuries. She recalls, “I was competing at this level and it was just unthinkable then to stop or take some time off. Looking back, I wish I cross-trained and rested more.”
Dental Injuries
Contact sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball and martial arts increase the risk of injury to the mouth, teeth, lips, cheek and tongue. The National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety estimates that more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year while children are playing sports.
Contact sports such as soccer, baseball, basketball and martial arts increase the risk of injury to the mouth, teeth, lips, cheek and tongue. The National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety estimates that more than 5 million teeth are knocked out each year while children are playing sports.
“Knocked-out teeth or avulsions are quite common. For permanent teeth, time is of the essence. The sooner the child is seen by a dentist, the better the chances of saving the teeth,” says Dr. Catherine Chien, a pediatric dentist in Oxnard. If possible, immerse the tooth in milk or saliva en route to the dentist.
Dr. Chien advocates the use of mouth guards, which can greatly reduce the risk of dental injuries and the prospect of lifetime dental costs. An increasing number of clubs and teams are making the device mandatory for both practices and games. In Florida and New England, two associations of orthodontic specialists recently teamed up with NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith to provide free custom-fitted mouth guards to all middle and high school athletes.
Dr. Chien advocates the use of mouth guards, which can greatly reduce the risk of dental injuries and the prospect of lifetime dental costs. An increasing number of clubs and teams are making the device mandatory for both practices and games. In Florida and New England, two associations of orthodontic specialists recently teamed up with NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith to provide free custom-fitted mouth guards to all middle and high school athletes.
Treatment and Recovery
Most doctors use diagnostic tools such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the extent of sports-related injuries.
“The first thing I would ask a patient to do is to avoid the inciting factor or the sport that caused the injury. It doesn’t mean that he or she has to abstain from any kind of sport,” says Dr. Davis.
Most doctors use diagnostic tools such as X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the extent of sports-related injuries.
“The first thing I would ask a patient to do is to avoid the inciting factor or the sport that caused the injury. It doesn’t mean that he or she has to abstain from any kind of sport,” says Dr. Davis.
Active rest or cross training might be recommended to maintain aerobic fitness. Doctors may also propose conservative treatment techniques such as anti-inflammatory medications, ice and the use of protective devices such as knee braces or wrist guards to avoid aggravating the injury.
Rehabilitation is also a big factor in an athlete’s treatment program. This may involve manual physical therapy as well as ultrasound treatment. Ian Boys, a competitive basketball player in high school and college, describes his treatment regimen. “I had tendinitis in the middle of a season so rest was out of the question then. For about an hour and a half everyday, I went through the entire heating pad, athletic tape and ice routine,” says Boys.
Safety Tips for All Sports
An astounding 62 percent of sports injuries have been estimated to occur during practice, prompting associations such as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) to come up with Play It Safe, a Guide to Safety for Young Athletes:
An astounding 62 percent of sports injuries have been estimated to occur during practice, prompting associations such as the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) to come up with Play It Safe, a Guide to Safety for Young Athletes:
- Be in proper physical condition to play the sport.
- Follow the rules of the sport.
- Wear appropriate protective gear (examples: shin guards for soccer, a hard-shell helmet for baseball or softball).
- Know how to use athletic equipment.
- Always warm up before playing.
- Avoid playing when very tired or in pain.
- Get a pre-season physical examination.
- Make sure adequate water or other liquids are available to maintain proper hydration.
“Heat injuries are quite common in soccer. I always tell the parents that proper hydration starts before a game or practice. I am also against giving soda prior because it just gives them a full, bloated feeling and can even cause stomach pain,” says Julie Escudero, a parent of two teenagers and long-time volunteer soccer coach.
High Expectations
Dr. Davis discusses the pressure placed on children these days. “No doubt, there are lots of opportunities for children to excel in sports. But along with that comes the need to excel, and often, injuries. I think parents should just be hyper-vigilant,” says Dr. Davis.
High Expectations
Dr. Davis discusses the pressure placed on children these days. “No doubt, there are lots of opportunities for children to excel in sports. But along with that comes the need to excel, and often, injuries. I think parents should just be hyper-vigilant,” says Dr. Davis.
