According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 3.5 million sports-related injuries occur every year in children under the age of 15. The AAP notes that approximately half of these injuries are overuse injuries, many of which are preventable with the proper education, training, equipment and technique.
Muscle Strains
Muscle strains occur when the muscle is contracted forcefully, usually near the point where it meets the tendon. The article "Common Sports Injuries in Children and Adolescents" by Mark R. Hutchinson, M.D., and Rima Nasser, M.D., explains that strains are more common in older children who have already experienced a growth spurt. Many factors play a role in causing a strain, including failure to warm up properly, muscle fatigue, and the presence of pre-existing injuries.
Apophyseal Injuries
The apophysis, or the part of the bone where the tendon inserts, is a common injury site in children who play sports, due to the growth that is still occurring there. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, Osgood-Schlatter disease is one such example of an apophyseal injury of the knee, and Little Leaguer's elbow, a common complaint among young baseball players, is an example of an apophyseal injury to the elbow joint.
Contusions
A contusion, or bruise, occurs when the tissue and capillaries are injured by direct force, which causes them to bleed and clot into the nearby tissue. Contusions commonly occur on the lower extremities during contact sports. Although typically benign, large contusions can lead to complications and long-term problems if not properly treated.
Fractures
Bone fractures are another type of sports injury in children. Hutchison and Masser note that since the growth plate, or physeal plate, of the bone is still maturing in children, it's more easily injured than in adults. Depending on the treatment and severity of the fracture, the injury may affect growth or lead to bone deformity. Common sites of sports-related fractures in children include the elbow, lower leg, foot and fingers. Stress fractures are common as well, result from overuse rather than an acute injury. As such, stress fractures are usually less severe.
Sprains
Sprains are injuries to the ligaments,or the strong, fibrous bands that connect bone to bone. Hutchinson and Nasser suggest children undergoing growth spurts are extra susceptible to sprains, such as stretching and tearing of the ACL. Joint dislocations are a severe type of sprain that occur in children, where one of the bones is completely forced out of normal alignment due to ligament overstretching.
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