Compared to adults, children/adolescents can be more susceptible to some unique injuries, while young athletes can also experience similar musculoskeletal acute injuries as adults such as fractures, concussion, contusions, strains, and tears.
However, children are more susceptible to what is known as ‘traction apophysitis’. These are injuries at the site at which the muscle tendons connect to their bones. This is due to children’s bones being in a state of often rapid growth. As these bony structures are growing and are not fully mature, it can be considered the weak link of the muscle/tendon/bone junction.
Thus, the site where the tendons attach and pull on the bones are much easier to injure relative to the muscle and tendon. These injuries can be from repetitive stress or traction at the bone (traction apophysitis) which left untreated can lead to avulsion fractures (where the site which the tendon attaches to is ripped away from the rest of the bone). Children who see a rapid increase in their training and have overly tight muscles have an increased chance of developing these types of issues.
Traction apophysitis injuries can occur throughout the body and can often depend on the nature of the activity or sport children are partaking in, with notable examples being at the heel (Severs Disease), the knee (Osgood Schlatter’s Disease and Sinding-Larsen-Johansson syndrome) and the pelvis (where the quadriceps and hamstring muscles attach to the pelvis). Sports which include extensive and rapid change of direction movements such as jumping, sprinting have a higher prevalence of these types of injuries.
Another type of bone injury that is seen typically in athletic children or adolescent population is ‘Spondylolysis’, which occurs in the lower back. Spondylolysis is a stress fracture at the pars interarticularis (part of your lower back’s vertebrae) because of repetitive stress. Athletic children who see an increase in their training activity can be susceptible to this injury. Sports such as cricket, gymnastics and tennis involving a lot of rapid lower back extension and rotation/side bending have a higher prevalence of spondylolysis.
If left untreated these stress fractures can develop into proper fractures causing the vertebrae to slip forward and cause further pain and compression of the neural structures surrounding the injury.
If your child does sustain such any injury, it is important to have the injury assessed by a physiotherapist. Before this can be organized it is also important to follow the R.I.C.E principle (rest from painful activity, apply ice as often as possible, apply compression to the injury area and elevate the injury site above chest height). Remember if you are unsure of the nature of the injury or whether physiotherapy can be useful for your children, Back in Motion has a free assessment policy which can allow you to gain an understanding of the injury is and how to manage it.
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