In high school, football accounts for the most injuries in boys, while soccer accounts for most injuries in girls. Sprains of ligaments, muscle strains and bruises account for most of the acute injuries. However, repetitive and overuse during sports are more common in adolescents than acute injuries. Research studies have shown that up to 48 percent of high school athletes sustained one injury during their playing season.
While they are still growing, the skeleton takes on the increased weight and load put forth during an athletic activity. They are not fully formed and as a result, there is increased risk for a severe injury in teens. During growth and development, agility, power, speed and motor coordination improve. During their growth spurt, lengthening of the bones occurs before growth in the connective tissues. As a result, there may be a relative decrease in flexibility during this period.
Girls tend to be more flexible than boys and peak in their flexibility around age fifteen years compared to boys who develop increased flexibility later in adolescence. Decreased flexibility may cause an increased risk for overuse injuries in both boys and girls. There are other factors that may contribute to a teenager sustaining an athletic injury.
For acute injuries, always remember the mnemonic PRICE. Sprains and strain may be treated with Protection, Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. Fractures may require casting. Allowing the body to heal and alleviating the swelling can allow rehabilitation process to start. After the swelling is eliminated, appropriate adjustments can be administered, scar tissue can be properly addressed and exercises can be given.
The following are some of the strategies that may help teens prevent athletic injuries:
Parents should recall the following strategies to help prevent athletic injuries in adolescents:
Sources: MassGeneral Hospital for children
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