Frequency of Sports Injuries

High school athletics bring teenagers together, provide structure to and foster a sense of community. However, they also bring the risk of injury. The reports of high school sports injuries from At Your Own Risk show some astounding results:

• 90% of student athletes report sustaining an injury
• 54% continued to play while injured
• 12% of student athletes sustained concussions

Health Research Funding also reports the scary number of injuries with high school athletes each year:

• 2 million student athlete injuries
• 500,000 doctor visits
• 30,000 hospital stays

These statistics show an overwhelming frequency of high school athletic injuries. With 9/10 athletes sustaining injuries, they are almost guaranteed to get hurt at some point while playing. On top of that, the half that continue to play while injured are certainly worsening their condition.

The good news is, severity and quantity of injuries can be prevented. Exploring prevention and treatment for common sports injuries can help detect any injury early on.

Common Sports Injuries

Sprained Ankle

The bones of the ankle are held together by several ligaments: the anterior, deltoid, and posterior (Sports Health). A sprained ankle occurs when these ligaments are strained or torn, which can result from rolling the ankle or landing on it awkwardly after stepping, jumping or twisting. This injury occurs frequently in basketball, soccer, trail running, and tennis — all common high school sports.

Symptoms of a sprained ankle include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Limited range of motion
• ‘Popping’ feeling or sound

Treatment for a sprained ankle can include self-care, medication, physical therapy, or, in severe cases, surgery. Self-care for a sprained ankle typically involves a combination of elevation, compression, and rest. A doctor may also prescribe medication for pain.

Physical therapy may sometimes be needed to restore the ankle’s full range of movement, build up strength, and ensure flexibility. If a ligament will not heal on its own, a doctor may recommend surgery. (OrthoInfo)

Shin Splints

‘Shin splints’ — also known as medial tibial stress syndrome — refers to pain that occurs along the tibia (OrthoInfo). Shin splints occur in athletes who play sports that involve a lot of running, like cross country, track, or soccer. They also affect dancers and tennis players.

Shin splints result from small muscle tears, muscle inflammation, or a combination of these. They can occur after:

• Running downhill or on uneven ground
• Increasing activity
• Inadequate stretching
• Putting more weight on one leg than the other
• Improper running form
• Weak muscles in areas that support the legs (buttocks, hips)
• Inadequate training
• Inappropriate workout gear (OrthoInfo)

The most common treatment for shin splints is to cease activity, since shin splints are often caused by overactivity. Once pain stops, doctors advise to slowly begin activity and practice better form when running. While an athlete rests, shin splints can be treated with self-care methods like ice and simple stretching. (Runners World)

ACL Tear

Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears are some of the most common sports related injuries. The bones of the knee are connected by several ligaments — bands of soft, connective tissue — that help the knee to move and bend. In sports with repetitive running and jumping, like soccer, basketball and tennis, ligaments can tear.

The Cruciate ligaments control forward and backward motion of the knee. The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is at the front of the knee, and is most vulnerable to tearing.

Symptoms of a torn ACL include:

• Pain and swelling in the knee
• Limited range of motion
• Inability to walk or put weight on knee
• Tenderness

Nonsurgical treatments for ACL tears include wearing a brace and physical therapy. A brace protects the knee until the ligament heals. Physical therapy can restore strength and balance, and guide the knee into moving in a way that prevents future ACL injury. In some severe cases, a torn ACL may require surgery. If an ACL cannot be stitched together or repaired, it may need to be reconstructed, or replaced with a prosthetic. (Mayo Clinic)

Concussion

A concussion is a traumatic brain injury often caused by a blow to the head. Concussions occur most commonly in high school football, basketball and soccer, where contact between players happens frequently. Rates of injury for youth football players are as high as 38%, with USA Football reporting that 4% of youth football players sustain concussions (Orthopedic Journal of Sports Medicine).

The symptoms of a concussion include:

• Confusion
• Headache
• Ringing in the ears
• Loss of balance
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Dizziness
• Trouble with memory and concentration

A doctor should be seen after a person sustains any blow to the head, but it is particularly important if the above listed symptoms are present. A doctor will test physical factors, like vision, hearing, balance and coordination, as well as cognitive factors like memory and concentration. A doctor may also use brain imaging tests to diagnose a concussion.

The main treatment for a concussion is rest. The results of a single concussion are usually temporary. However, after a first concussion, the person’s risk for a second is greatly increased. Repeated concussions over long periods of time severely damage the brain. For this reason, it’s very important to rest after a concussion and not engage in athletic activity until fully healed, and only with proper equipment. (Mayo Clinic)

Preventing Sports Injuries

The vast majority of sports injuries are preventable. Sports are fun, community-building activities that help kids to engage. With simple preventative safety measures, high school sports can be much safer.

Stretching

Stretching increases muscle strength and flexibility. It warms your muscles up for activity and ensures that no sudden movements will lead to injury. There are many great stretches for youth athletes online. It’s also important to warm up before a sporting event to increase the heart rate and prepare the body for movement.

Proper Equipment

Proper equipment is essential for safety in youth sports. Most of the conversation about this revolves around football and proper football gear. This makes sense, as football players are three times more likely to sustain an injury than athletes in other sports (HRF). Proper body padding and, most importantly, helmets to prevent concussions, are essential to keeping football players safe. Proper equipment also means appropriate shoes that are in good condition. Running shoes with thin, worn-down soles and improper support can lead to shin splints for cross country athletes and basketball players.

Reasonable Activity

A staggering 54% of student athletes continue to play while injured, which can make injuries worse and may lead temporary conditions to become chronic. Many sports injuries occur and worsen because students play while injured; or play too long, too far or too hard before their bodies are ready.

A large part of the responsibility for preventing overactivity falls on the adults in students’ lives. Coaches and parents must prioritize health over school spirit and competition, and enforce healthy breaks in activity. Overactivity is one of the greatest risk factors for youth sports injuries, and moderation is one of the best ways to prevent getting hurt.

Sports Injury Treatment at MidAmerica

For more information about MidAmerica’s sports medicine offerings or to schedule an appointment, call (708) 237-7200. MidAmerica Orthopaedics serves various areas such as Chicago, Palos Hills, Mokena, New Lenox, Oak Lawn, Burbank and more.