Jennifer Walkup, a 2005 graduate of the Belmont University Doctor of Physical Therapy program, was recently featured in an article she wrote for The Oak Ridger in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. In the article, Walkup provides suggestions on how to minimize injuries in young athletes.
Walkup is a senior physical therapist on the staff of Methodist Therapy, a service of Methodist Medical Center. Walkup has specialized in pediatrics since 2007 and has experience treating children with Torticollis, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, coordination disorders and various developmental disorders. Her certifications include Clinical Instructor Certification and Interactive Metronome Certification.
The story is linked here.
Story reprinted from The Oak Ridger:
OAK RIDGE, Tenn. —Sports injuries among young athletes are reaching epidemic proportions, as more children participate in athletic activities, choose a sport at a very young age, and play sports year round. Children are not miniature adults, and all of this activity does not give their bodies time to rest.
Because they are still growing and developing, children are less coordinated and have slower reaction times than teens and adults. They also grow at different rates, which can result in smaller players competing against much larger players of the same age. The combination of these factors puts children at greater risk for musculoskeletal injuries.
Prevention
Parents can help prevent injuries by looking for signs that their children are overwhelmed, over-scheduled, and need a break. Coaches and other qualified adults should make sure that children wear the proper protective equipment for their sport. The equipment needs to meet the standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.
Listen to your children. Does your child like the sport? Children are more likely to sustain injuries if they are not happy with the sport they are playing. They could be playing improperly or not giving their best effort, leading to an increased risk for injury.
Children should be supervised by properly trained adults and matched to a sport based on their size, skill level, and physical and emotional maturity. Young players should practice their sport, warm-up before and after playing a game, drink plenty of fluids when they are physically active, and take adequate rest breaks during practices and between games.
Overuse Injuries
Nearly every child who plays a sport has some risk of an overuse injury. The most common overuse injuries are soft tissue injuries including sprains, strains, and contusions. A sprain is a partial or complete tear of a ligament, which is a tough band of fibrous connective tissue that connects the ends of bones and stabilizes the joint. A strain is a partial or complete tear of a muscle or tendon. A contusion or bruise is the most common sports injury and rarely causes a young athlete to be sidelined. Other sports related injuries include but are not limited to:
• Anterior knee pain: Pain that occurs in the front of the knee under the kneecap and typically involves swelling because of inflammation of the tendon or cartilage. It is typically caused by muscle tightness in the major muscle groups around the thigh.
• Shin splints: Patients experience pain in the front and lower parts of their legs. This injury is often caused by repetitive running on a hard surface or over-training.
• Spondylolysis: Patients complain of lower back pain as the result of repetitive constant backward bending (hyperextension) of the spine. This condition is commonly seen in children who participate in football, weight lifting, gymnastics, or wrestling.
• Inflammation of the shoulder: Pain and swelling of the shoulder typically occurs because of repetitive stress. This is common in overhead athletes such as baseball players or swimmers. Initially, the pain may come and go, but it may eventually become constant.
• Little League elbow: Repetitive throwing can cause pain and tenderness in the elbow.
Overuse injuries may be aggravated by growth spurts, improper warm-ups, poor technique, participation in sports year-round, participation in several sports during a single season, or the use of improper equipment. Without the proper treatment, these injuries can lead to a more serious injury.
Treatment
When an overuse injury is diagnosed, the goals of treatment are to control the pain, prevent complications, and promote healing of the injured area. The injured child may need rest, ice, compression and elevation of the affected area. After seeing their physician, the child may need to wear a splint or a cast, use crutches or a wheelchair, undergo physical therapy, or have surgery.
The goals of physical therapy may include stretching and strengthening of the injured muscles, ligaments and tendons. Children often heal quickly, and it is important for them to follow the advice of their physician and physical therapist to prevent re-injury.
Re-injuries tend to occur when a patient returns to activity before their injury has healed. Not allowing the injured area to heal properly places stress on the area and causes the body to make up for the weakness elsewhere. What does all this mean? Your child is at a higher risk for injuring another part of the body if the initial injury is not allowed to heal properly. In some cases, a child may be unable to return to a sport without risking re-injury. Return to sports should be discussed with your physician and your physical therapist in detail in order to prevent further injuries.
About the Author: Jennifer Walkup, PT, DPT, is a senior physical therapist on the staff of Methodist Therapy, a service of Methodist Medical Center. Walkup graduated magna cum laude with her bachelor of science in biology from East Tennessee State University. She received her doctorate in physical therapy from Belmont University. She is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Tennessee Physical Therapy Association. Walkup has specialized in pediatrics since 2007 and has experience treating children with Torticollis, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, coordination disorders and various developmental disorders. Her certifications include Clinical Instructor Certification and Interactive Metronome Certification.