Overuse Injuries in Youth Sports: A Growing Concern

Overuse Injuries in Youth Sports: A Growing Concern

Youth sports are more competitive than ever, with many kids training year-round in a single sport. While this dedication is admirable, it also increases the risk ofoveruse injuries—a type of injury caused by repetitive stress without enough recovery time.

Common overuse injuries in young athletes include:

• Sever’s Disease(heel pain in growing athletes)

• Osgood-Schlatter Disease(knee pain in active teens)

• Stress fractures

• Tendonitisin the elbow, shoulder, or wrist

These injuries don’t usually happen all at once—they build up over time.Without intervention, they can sideline kids for weeks, months, or even permanently.

That’s whybuilt-in rest periodsthroughout the year are essential—not optional. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends taking at least 1-2 days off per week andone full month off every 3-4 monthsto allow the body to recover and develop properly.

💡How Physical Therapy Helps:

At Faith in Motion in Hurricane, WV, our Doctors of Physical Therapy specialize in evaluating youth athletes, identifying early signs of overuse, and correcting movement imbalances before they become serious injuries. If your child is already in pain, we offer effective treatment options including:

• Targeted stretching and strengthening

• Movement and biomechanics analysis

• Return-to-sport guidance and prevention planning

✨Let’s keep kids healthy, strong, and in the game.If your young athlete is showing signs of persistent pain or discomfort, don’t wait. Schedule an evaluation today.