The Importance of Immediate Treatment for Common Sports Related Injuries in Youth

Sports make up an important part of childhood development. It keeps kids active, teaches them how to work as part of a team, and boosts self-confidence.

However, activities like basketball, baseball, biking, football, and other physical play can lead to sports-related injuries in youth. Over 3.5 million kids get hurt during while engaging in sports annually.

When a child gets hurt during sports, you should seek immediate medical attention for their injury. Let’s look at some common youth sports-related injuries and discuss why they require prompt treatment.

Sprains and Strains

Skeletal muscles attach to bones by connective tissues called ligaments. A sprain occurs when something causes a ligament to stretch or tear.

Bones attach to bones with tissue connectors called tendons. When the tendon gets torn or stretched, it is called a strain.

Sprains and strains can happen from twisting a joint or from an outside force pressing to the joint, causing minor trauma. Some sprains occur suddenly while others develop due to overuse of a specific joint.

Youth sports-related injuries like these may not seem serious. However, they do need prompt medical attention.

Sprains and strains can both cause a considerable amount of swelling and pain for kids. Left untreated, it can lead to joint instability and arthritis that might affect them throughout their life.

Broken Bones

During sport-related activities, the body moves and forces come from all different directions. This can easily lead to a broken bone.

Some types of breaks, like a greenstick fracture, only require stabilization and minimal treatment. Others, such as a compression fracture, call for immediate surgery.

Breaks often cause the same symptoms of pain, swelling, and redness as sprains and strains do. This makes it especially important to get a child seen right away for imaging that can reveal what’s happening beneath the skin.

Failing to treat a broken bone properly can cause it to heal out of alignment, which can cause further injury and problems with mobility. Plus, kids’ bones are still growing and need proper treatment so it does not stunt the process, especially when the break occurs at the growth plate.

Concussions

Some of the more serious types of sports-related injuries in youth include concussions. A concussion occurs when a blow to the head or violent shaking causes the brain to slam against the skull.

Symptoms of a concussion may include:

• Dizziness
• Blurred vision
• Nausea with or without vomiting
• Headaches
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness

Brain injuries can lead to serious debilitation and even death. The injury may not seem bad at first, however, it can worsen in time. The faster a child receives treatment, the better their chances for a full recovery after a concussion.

Take Sports-Related Injuries in Youth Seriously

When a child gets hurt during a sports game, do not brush it off. Take sports-related injuries in youth seriously as postponing seeking medical care may worsen their injuries, stunt their physical and mental development, and in some instances, lead to death.

Visit our Corpus Christi emergency room for fast, compassionate care.

Sources:

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. “Sports Injury Statistics” Stanford Children’s Health, 2021, https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=sports-injury-statistics-90-P02787

Richard W. Kruse, DO, Susan M. Dubowy, PA-C. “Broken Bones” KidsHealth, 1995-2021, https://www.kidshealth.org/en/kids/broken-bones.html