Over use Injuries – Are we doing too much?

Jonathan Hersch, M.D. { Orthopaedic Associates USA }

Believe it or not even kids can get injured by doing too much. Us weekend warriors know what it feels like Monday morning after our Sunday doubleheader softball game. Children can suffer just the same and over use injuries of the extremities is increasing in incidence as our kids play more sports, year round especially here in the sunshine state.

An over use injury is pain developing at an area of the body doing too much. Examples include shoulder pain in a pitcher, leg pain in a runner, and elbow pain in a tennis player . The body needs rest from mechanical insult to heal, regenerate and maintain function. However it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the good and bad pain.

To determine if someone is developing an over use syndrome it requires careful attention and observation, especially in children who don't want to stop and avoid complaining for fear of being taken out of a game. Parents can look at their child play. Has there been a change in throwing form in their young pitcher? Is their tennis star double faulting early in the match when before it was all aces? Is the athlete constantly rubbing their arm during a game or limping around the bases. See if the child can move the involved area as much as the other side. Is there muscle strength equal to the other side?

We must apply limits to our children for them to be able to continue playing sports without over use injuries. Multiple Little League baseball organizations have endorsed pitch count guidelines. These guidelines take into account not only pitching per game and per week but also one must consider that some baseball players play multiple positions. Too much throwing can cause significant wear and tear on the tendons and also the growth plate of the shoulder. This theory of limits can also be applied to all sports to allow rest and prevention of injury. Having a true "off season" is becoming more difficult with travel teams and multiple sport athletes. However, even our kids are not indestructible.

Teaching proper techniques, education about the signs and symptoms of injury and knowing when to rest can go a long way in preventing over use injuries. If simple rest is not resolving the issue, then consultation with a sports medicine specialist should be obtained.