Youth baseball is a time to learn the fundamentals and skills of America's pastime. But, just like any other sport, there is still a risk for various injuries. A common injury sustained by teenage baseball players is shin splints. Shin splints are characterized by pain near the shin bones and can be caused by a wide variety of factors.
Causes
Shin splints generally occur as a result of various factors, but the teenage baseball player has several specific potential causes. One of the most common causes of shin splints occurs as a result of the development process and growth spurt during the teenage years. Other causes range from poor playing surfaces with hard dirt or uneven grass along with a poor level of physical fitness and conditioning. Poor practice techniques or poorly fitted equipment from inadequate supervision and coaching may also cause teenage baseball players to suffer from shin splints.
Prevention
While there are numerous causes for shin splints in teenage baseball players, there are also numerous ways to prevent the injury. Every baseball season should start with a physical examination and every practice or game should start with a total body warm-up. The season should start with general conditioning drills and then progress gradually based on the ability levels of the teenage baseball players. This helps to prevent overuse of the legs that can cause shin splints.
Treatment
After a teenage baseball player suffers from shin splints, there are several treatment options to relieve the symptoms. The shin splints should be evaluated by a coach or trainer to evaluate the treatment options based on the severity of the injury. Basic treatment options for teenage baseball players start with proper footwear and arch support to control pronation of the foot. Other treatment options include stretching exercises, ice, massage and rest.
Warning
Shin splints among teenage baseball players are common, but they can lead to a more severe injury if left untreated. For example, untreated shin splints that irritate an area for an extended period of time can expand into a stress fracture where the bone cracks. Another medical concern for shin splints is the misdiagnosis of an ankle fracture. Some teenage baseball players may actually have a fractured ankle and think the pain is from shin splints.
References
- Mass General Hospital for Children: Athletic Injuries
- Podiatry Today; Secrets To Treating Stress Fracture Of The Ankle; Amol Saxena and Andrew Cassidy; June 2002
- Sports Injury Handbook: Top 10 Sports Injuries
- American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine: Your Podiatric Physician Talks About Sports and Your Children's Feet
- MayoClinic.com; Shin Splints - Definition; Mayo Clinic Staff; December 2010
