Pediatric Sports Overuse Injuries

The goal of treatment is to control the pain, promote healing, prevent complications and restore normal use of the injured area.

Initial treatment for overuse injuries includes R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression and elevation).

Talk with your child's doctor if the injured area has a prolonged, visible deformity or if severe pain keeps your child from using their arm, leg, wrist, ankle, foot or knee.

Other treatment options may include:

• Medicine
• Activity restrictions
• Splint or cast
• Crutches or wheelchair
• Physical therapy (to stretch and strengthen the injured muscles, ligaments and tendons)
• Surgery. Your child may need surgery if the injury happens again, they have pain that doesn't get better, or a muscle, tendon or ligament is badly torn.

Overuse injuries usually heal quite quickly in children. It's important that the child adhere to the activity restrictions and stretching and strengthening rehabilitation programs to prevent reinjury.

Most sports injuries are from traumatic injury or overuse of muscles or joints. Many sports injuries can be prevented with correct conditioning and training, wearing the right protective gear and using the right equipment.