Most Common Sports Injuries in Kids

Types of youth sports injuries in kids run far and wide. KidsStreet Urgent Care has all the details on the most common sports injuries in kids! 

Types of Sports with Most Risk 

Young athletes have varying degrees of risk of injury depending on the type of sport they play. 

Contact sports pose the most risk to kids; however, sports that induce repetitive stress on the body also pose a risk for injury. 

Take extra precaution if your kids play any of the following sports: 

• Football
• Ice Hockey
• Basketball
• Rugby
• Soccer

While these sports activities are riskier than others, parents and coaches of any sport should closely monitor their kids. 

Five Most Common Sports Injuries in Children 

KidsStreet has rounded up the top five most common sports related injuries in kids! These include broken bones, knee injuries, twists and sprains, elbow and shoulder injuries, and concussions. 

While these are common injuries, there are plenty of other ones that may affect your children. If you’re unsure of what kind of injury your child has sustained, let KidsStreet help! We can diagnose and treat sports injuries in our urgent care services for kids.

Broken Bones

Bone fractures make up some of the typical sports injuries seen in kids, and they have a fairly large range. These are some of the types broken bones most seen in children: 

• Stress fracture: tiny crack in a bone caused by overuse. 
• Greenstick fracture: break on one side of the bone. 
• Torus fracture: bend on one side of the bone with no effect on the other side. 
• Comminuted fracture: a bone broken into two or more pieces. 
• Compression fracture: complete collapse of the bone. 
• Growth plate fracture: a small crack in the growing bone of a child.

Always seek medical attention if you suspect your child has broken a bone. A cast is a normal treatment method for non-serious breaks. 

Knee Injuries

Knee injuries range from general pain to ACL tears, which are generally overuse injuries. Knee injuries generally demonstrate tenderness and swelling of the knee as well as pain while using the knee.

For non-serious knee injuries, we recommend using the RICE method:

Rest: Avoid using the injured area as much as possible

Ice: Apply ice packs or bags of frozen vegetables to the injury. Wrap the ice pack in a hand towel to avoid direct skin contact.

Compression: Wrap the injury in an elastic bandage to provide support, reduce blood flow and limit swelling.

Elevation: Keep the injury raised above heart level to reduce swelling.

An ACL tear is a small rip in the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the back of the knee. These injuries may require extensive treatment from sports medicine professionals depending on the severity.

Twists and Sprains

Twists and sprains can be painful, but are usually more of an inconvenience than a serious injury. They typically heal within a few days or weeks with proper rest and treatment. 

Twists result from a sudden twisting motion of a body part and can happen to any extremity. Sprains are minor tears in ligaments or tendons, and most kids experience them in their ankles and wrists. 

KidsStreet recommends using the RICE method for twists and sprains as well. 

Elbow and Shoulder Injuries

Elbow and shoulder injuries are typically seen in kids that play sports that require repetitive throwing and catching like baseball and softball. These injuries range from simple pain to Tennis Elbow, Little League Elbow, and Little League shoulder. 

According to South Shore Orthopedics, Little League Elbow and Shoulder result from repetitive stress on the growth plate in elbows and shoulders.

Rest is a major key to avoiding these injuries, and rest is usually the treatment method for them. 

Concussions

A concussion is a head injury caused by sudden impact. They can range in severity and require immediate medical attention.

Symptoms of a concussion consist of: 

• Nausea or vomiting
• Headache
• Sensitivity to light and sound
• Dizziness
• Fatigue 
• Issues paying attention
• Memory loss

Treatment for a concussion varies depending on how severe it is. Always talk to your child’s provider for the right treatment plan. 

Avoiding Sports Injuries

Kids can’t always fully avoid injury, especially when being active. Luckily, we’ve got some tips to best reduce your child’s risk of injury while playing sports! 

• Proper Warm-Ups and Cool-Downs: Ensure your child warms up properly before games or practices. They should also do cool-down exercises after participating in sports. 
• Always Use Good Form and Mechanics: When your child is playing or practicing, make sure they are using proper techniques. Bad form can easily lead to injuries. 
• Get Plenty of Rest: Take rest days! Kids can be subject to overuse injuries if they never take days off their sport. KidsStreet encourages daily exercise, but we recommend changing up your child’s routine a few times a week. This can help reduce overusing certain muscle groups.
• Use The Right Equipment: A big step in avoiding sports injuries is ensuring your child uses the right equipment. This includes making sure their equipment is up-to-date, not broken or damaged, and fits them. 
• Footwear Matters: Making sure your child wears the right shoes for their sports is crucial! Proper ankle and foot support and protection helps keep them injury-free. 
• Eat A Well-Rounded Diet: We all love fun foods like desserts, but we also need the recommended amount of daily vitamins. Ensuring your child has a well-rounded diet supports good muscle function and bone growth. It also gives them proper energy to perform their best while helping reduce their risk of injury. 
• Don’t Specialize Too Young. According to Duke Health, kids that specialize in one particular sport have a higher risk of injury. It’s okay if your child loves one sport, but encourage them to try different sports or exercises to prevent issues. 

Turn To KidsStreet Urgent Care

Sports injuries are no fun to deal with, and that’s why KidsStreet works hard to help your kids heal and feel better fast! 

To visit one of our kid-focused clinics, register online. You can wait from your vehicle or at home until our providers are ready to see you.

Forget to register? Don’t sweat it! We accept walk-ins all day, every day. 

We recommend registering ahead of your visit as it reduces in-clinic wait times. Walk-ins join the same queue as those who register online.