Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevention of Childhood Sports Injuries

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Sports Injuries

Abstract

Young athletes who practice sports following the phrase “no pain, no gain” may not be aware of the potential risk of injury, hidden in this expression, to their growing bodies.

The dramatic rise in sports participation of children and adolescents in recent years has created a significant rise in sports-related injuries to this unique group of athletes.

An overview of the epidemiology as well as special characteristics and risk factors unique to the pediatric and adolescent population, both intrinsic and extrinsic, is discussed.

Different prevention measures, pre-activity, during, and post-activity, are reviewed in order to assist parents, coaches, and orthopedic surgeons in keeping sports – as it should be – fun.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Acasuso Diaz M, Collantes Estevez E, Sanchez GP (1993) Joint hyperlaxity and musculoligamentous lesions: study of a population of homogeneous age, sex and physical exertion. Br J Rheumatol 32(2):120–122

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alentorn-Geli E, Myer GD, Silvers HJ et al (2009) Prevention of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injuries in soccer players. Part 2: a review of prevention programs aimed to modify risk factors and to reduce injury rates. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17(8):859–879

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander CJ (1976) Effect of growth rate on the strength of the growth plate-shaft function. Skeletal Radiol 1:67–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen JG, Overbaugh KA (1994) The adolescent athlete. Part III: the role of nutrition and hydration. J Pediatr Health Care 8(6):250–254

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Annesi J, Faigenbaum A, Westcott W et al (2007) Effects of the youth fit for life protocol on physiological, mood, self-appraisal, and voluntary physical activity changes in African American preadolescents: contrasting afterschool care and physical education formats. Int J Clin Health Psychol 7:641–659

    Google Scholar 

  • Bailey DA, Wedge JH, McCulloch RG et al (1989) Epidemiology of fractures of the distal end of the radius in children as associated with growth. J Bone Joint Surg Am 71(8):1225–1231

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beals KA, Manore MM (2002) Disorders of the female athlete triad among collegiate athletes. Int J Sports Nutr Exerc Metab 12:281–293

    Google Scholar 

  • Beals KA, Meyer NL (2007) Female athlete triad update. Clin Sports Med 26:69–89

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Beighton P, Horan FJ (1969) Orthopaedic aspects of the Ehlers-Danlos. Bone Joint Surg Br 51(3):444–453

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benjamin HJ (2007) The female adolescent athlete: specific concerns [Review]. Pediatr Ann 36(11):719–726

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Benson A, Torade M, Fiatarone S (2006) Muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with higher insulin sensitivity in children and adolescents. Int J Pediatr Obes 1:222–231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berhman R, Kliegman R, Jenson H (2007) Nelson textbook of pediatrics, 18th edn. Saunders, Philadelphia, pp 60–65

    Google Scholar 

  • Bien DP (2011) Rationale and implementation of anterior cruciate ligament injury prevention warm-up programs in female athletes. J Strength Cond Res 25:271–285

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bijur PE, Trumble A, Harel Y et al (1995) Sports and recreation injuries in US children and adolescents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 149(9):1009–1016

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Boreham C, McKay H (2011) Physical activity in childhood and bone health. Br J Sports Med 45(11):877–879

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Broom ND, Oloyede A, Flachsmann R et al (1996) Dynamic fracture characteristics of the osteochondral junction undergoing shear deformation. Med Eng Phys 18(5):396–404

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Caine DJ (1990) Growth plate injury and bone growth: an update. Pediatr Exerc Sci 2:209–229

    Google Scholar 

  • Caine D, Maffulli N, Caine C (2008) Epidemiology of injury in child and adolescent sports: injury rates, risk factors, and prevention. Clin Sports Med 27(1):19–50

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carter C, Wilkinson J (1964) Persistent joint laxity and congenital dislocation of the hip. J Bone Joint Surg Br 46:40–45

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CDC (2006) Sports-related injuries among high school athletes – United States, 2005–06 school year. MMWR 55(38):1037–1040

    Google Scholar 

  • Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness (2000) Intensive training and sports specialization in young. Pediatrics 106(1 Pt 1):154–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Decoster LC, Bernier JN, Lindsay RH et al (1999) Generalized joint hypermobility and its relationship to injury patterns among NCAA lacrosse players. J Athl Train 34(2):99–105

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Emery CA, Meeuwisse WH, Hartmann SE (2005) Evaluation of risk factors for injury in adolescent soccer: implementation and validation of an injury surveillance system. Am J Sports Med 33(12):1882–1891

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faigenbaum AD, Myer GD (2010) Pediatric resistance training: benefits, concerns, and program design considerations. Curr Sports Med Rep 9(3):161–168

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Faigenbaum AD, Kraemer WJ, Blimkie CJ et al (2009) Youth resistance training: updated position statement from the national strength and conditioning association. J Strength Cond Res 23(5 Suppl):S60–S79

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Falk B, Sadres E, Constantini N et al (2002) The association between adiposity and the response to resistance training among pre- and early-pubertal boys. J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab 15:597–606

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feigenbaum MS, Pollock ML (1999) Prescription of resistance training for health and disease. Med Sci Sports Exerc 31(1):38–45

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman D, Shrier I, Rossignol M et al (1999) Adolescent growth is not associated with changes in flexibility. Clin J Sport Med 9:24–29

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fuller CW, Ekstrand J, Junge A et al (2006) Consensus statement on injury definitions and data collection procedures in studies of football (soccer) injuries. Br J Sports Med 40(3):193–201

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Habelt S, Hasler CC, Steinbrück K et al (2011) Sport injuries in adolescents. Majewski Orthop Rev (Pavia) 3(2):e18. Published online 2011 November 7

    Google Scholar 

  • Heidt RS, Sweeterman LM, Carlonas RL et al (2000) Avoidance of soccer injuries with conditioning. Am J Sports Med 28(5):659–662

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herman K, Barton C, Malliaras P et al (2012) The effectiveness of neuromuscular warm-up strategies, that require no additional equipment, for preventing lower limb injuries during sports participation: a systematic review. BMC Med 10:75

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hopper DM, Hopper JL, Elliott BC (1995) Do selected kinanthropometric and performance variables predict injuries in female netball players? J Sports Sci 13(3):213–222

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hostetler SG, Xiang H, Smith GA (2004) Characteristics of ice hockey-related injuries treated in US emergency departments, 2001–2002. Pediatrics 114(6):e661–e666

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson MR, Ireland ML (2003) Overuse and throwing injuries in the skeletally immature athlete [Review]. Instr Course Lect 52:25–36

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ireland ML (2002) The female ACL, why is it more prone to injury? Ortho Clin North Am 33:637–651

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Irmischer BS, Harris C, Pfeiffer RP et al (2004) Effects of a knee ligament injury prevention exercise program on impact forces in women. J Strength Cond Res 18(4):703–707

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Jayanthi N, Pinkham C, Dugas L et al (2013) Sports specialization in young athletes evidence-based recommendations. Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach 5:251–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson C, Powers PS, Dick R (1999) Athletes and eating disorders: the National Collegiate Athletic Association study. Int J Eating Disord 26:179–188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klemp P, Learmonth ID (1984) Hypermobility and injuries in a professional ballet company. Br J Sports Med 18(3):143–148

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LaBella CR, Huxford MR, Grissom J et al (2011) Effect of neuromuscular warm-up on injuries in female soccer and basketball athletes in urban public high schools: cluster randomized controlled trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 165(11):1033–1040

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lazaro RM, Bergeron MF, Keyser L et al (2011) Sports-related injuries in youth athletes: is over scheduling a risk factor? Clin J Sport Med 21(4):307–314

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lebrun CM (2007) The female athlete triad: what’s a doctor to do? Curr Sports Med Rep 6:397–404

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luke A, Lazaro RM, Bergerson MF, Keyser L, Benjamin H, Brenner J, d’Hemecourt P, Grady M, Philipott J, Smith A (2011) Sports related injuries in youth athletes: is overschedualing a risk factor? Clin J Sport Med 21(4):307–14. doi:10.1097/JSM.0b013e3182218f71. PMID: 21694586

    Google Scholar 

  • Lysens RJ, Ostyn MS, VandenAuweele Y et al (1989) The accident-prone and overuse-prone profiles of the young athlete. Am J Sports Med 17(5):612–619

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Malisoux L, Frisch A, Urhausen A et al (2013) Injury incidence in a sports school during a 3-year follow-up. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21:2895–2900

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer F, Bonaventura K, Cassel M et al (2012) Medical results of preparticipation examination in adolescent athletes. Br J Sports Med 46(7):524–530

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McHugh MP (2010) Oversized young athletes: a weighty concern. Br J Sports Med 44(1):45–49

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers MC, Laurent CM Jr, Higgins RW et al (2007) Downhill ski injuries in children and adolescents. Sports Med 37(6):485–499

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Micheli LJ (1986) Pediatric and adolescent sports injury: recent trends. In: Pandolf KB (ed) Exercise and sport science reviews. Macmillan, New York, pp 359–374

    Google Scholar 

  • Mountjoy M, Armstrong N, Bizzini L et al (2008) IOC consensus statement on training the elite child athlete. Clin J Sport Med 18(2):122–123

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nattiv A, Puffer JC, Green GA (1997) Lifestyles and health risks of collegiate athletes: a multi-center study. Clin J Sport Med 7(4):262–272

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nattiv A, Loucks AB, Manore MM et al (2007) American College of Sports Medicine. Position stand: the female athlete triad. Med Sci Sports Exerc 39:1867–1882

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nickel C, Zernial O, Musahl V et al (2004) A prospective study of kitesurfing injuries. Am J Sports Med 32(4):921–927

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen OE, Myklebust G, Engebretsen L et al (2005) Exercises to prevent lower limb injuries in youth sports: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 330(7489):449

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pacey V, Nicholson LL, Adams RD et al (2010) Generalized joint hypermobility and risk of lower limb joint injury during sport: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Am J Sports Med 38(7):1487–1497

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Padua DA, Marshall SW (2006) Evidence supporting ACL-injury prevention exercise programs: a review of the literature. Athl Ther Today 11:11–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Papanek PE (2003) The female athlete triad: an emerging role for physical therapy. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 33(10):594–614

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parfitt AM (1994) The two faces of growth: benefits and risks to bone integrity. Osteoporos Int 4(6):382–398

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Paty JG Jr, Swafford D (1984) Adolescent running injuries. J Adolesc Health Care 5(2):87–90

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Petrie TA (1992) Psychosocial antecedents of athletic injury: the effects of life stress and social support on female collegiate gymnasts. Behav Med 18(3):127–138

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeiffer RP, Shea KG, Roberts D et al (2006) Lack of effect of a knee ligament injury prevention program on the incidence of noncontact anterior cruciate ligament injury. J Bone Joint Surg Am 88(8):1769–1774

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Preparticipation Physical Evaluation Working Group (2010) preparticipation physical evaluation, 4th edn. American Academy of pediatrics, Grove village

    Google Scholar 

  • Quatman CE, Ford KR, Myer GD et al (2008) The effects of gender and pubertal status on generalized joint laxity in young athletes. J Sci Med Sport 11(3):257–263

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quatman-Yates CC, Quatman CE, Meszaros AJ et al (2012) A systematic review of sensorimotor function during adolescence: a developmental stage of increased motor awkwardness? Br J Sports Med 46(9):649–655

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Renstrom P, Ljungqvist A, Arendt E et al (2008) Non-contact ACL injuries in female athletes: an international olympic committee current concepts statement. Br J Sports Med 42(6):394–412

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez NR, Di Marco NM, Langley S, American Dietetic Association, Dietitians of Canada, American College of Sports Medicine (2009) American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Nutrition and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 41(3):709–731

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rogol AD, Clark PA, Roemmich JN (2000) Growth and pubertal development in children and adolescents: effects of diet and physical activity. Am Clin Nutr 72(Suppl):521S–528S

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rowe P (1979) Cartilage fracture due to weight lifting. Br J Sports M13:130–131

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schulz MR, Marshall SW, Yang J et al (2004) A prospective cohort study of injury incidence and risk factors in North Carolina high school competitive cheerleaders. Am J Sports Med 32(2):396–405

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith AD, Andrish JT, Micheli LJ (1989) The prevention of sports injuries of adolescents and children. Am J Sports Med 17(5):612–619

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith R, Damodaran AK, Swaminathan S et al (2005) Hypermobility and sports injuries in junior netball players. Br J Sports Med 39(9):628–631

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soderman K, Werner S, Pietila T et al (2000) Balance board training: prevention of traumatic injuries of the lower extremities in female soccer players? A prospective randomized intervention study. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 8:356–363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Strauss RH, Lanese RR (1982) Injuries among wrestlers in school and college tournaments. JAMA 248:2016–2019

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sugimoto D, Myer GD, McKeon JM et al (2012) Evaluation of the effectiveness of neuromuscular training to reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury in female athletes: a critical review of relative risk reduction and numbers-needed-to-treat analyses. Br J Sports Med 46(14):979–988

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sundgot-Borgen J (1994) Risk and trigger factors for the development of eating disorders in female athletes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 26:414–419

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Swenson DM, Yard EE, Fields SK et al (2010) Epidemiology of US high school sports-related fractures, 2005–2009. Clin J Sport Med 20(4):293–299

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson NJ, Morris RD (1994) Predicting injury risk in adolescent football players: the importance of psychological variables. J Pediatr Psychol 19(4):415–429

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Turbeville SD, Cowan LD, Owen WL et al (2003) Risk factors for injury in high school football players. Am J Sports Med 31(6):974–980

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wedderkopp N, Kaltoft M, Holm R et al (2003) Comparison of two intervention programmes in young female players in European handball–with and without ankle disc. Scand J Med Sci Sports 13(6):371–375

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams JM, Tonymon P, Andersen MB (1990) Effects of life-event stress on anxiety and peripheral narrowing. Behav Med 16(4):174–181

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wolf BR, Ebinger AE, Lawler MP et al (2009) Injury patterns in Division I collegiate swimming. Am J Sports Med 37(10):2037–2042

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Orthopedics, Dana Children’s Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, 6 Weizman Street, 64239, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Moshe Yaniv & Ronen Sever

Authors
  1. Moshe Yaniv
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ronen Sever
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Moshe Yaniv .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Orthopedics & Traumatology, Hacettepe University Fac. Medicine, Ankara, Turkey

    Mahmut Nedim Doral

  2. Gothenburg, Sweden

    Jon Karlsson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Yaniv, M., Sever, R. (2014). Prevention of Childhood Sports Injuries. In: Doral, M., Karlsson, J. (eds) Sports Injuries. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36801-1_205-1

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-36801-1_205-1

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-36801-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation