Dr. Charles J. Gatt, an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and arthroscopic surgery at University Orthopaedic Associates, has a unique perspective on the rampant number of overuse injuries that are impacting middle and high school aged athletes.

Overuse injuries are more difficult to diagnose and treat than acute injuries. Acute injuries occur after a single, traumatic event. For example, an acute injury would be a baseball player sliding into home plate and breaking his ankle. Overuse injuries are less clear-cut. They develop over time rather than as a result of one event. They are the result of repeated trauma to the bones, tendons, and joints. The injuries vary by location in the body, but for athletes in middle school and high school are happening much more frequently than they did in the past.

In general, the human body has a high capacity to adapt to stress placed on it by different factors. Though each individual varies, and some people are more prone to injuries than others, problems consistently happen when athletes do not give themselves enough time to recover between training sessions or games. Poor technique coupled with training errors and not taking enough time to rest can be a disastrous combination, especially for youth athletes.

In recent years, youth sports have become more and more organized with kids starting to play at very early ages. In the past, youth athletics were less regimented and organized, and it was common for kids to try out a number of sports before becoming focused on one. Now, from earlier and earlier ages, kids are picking one sport, like soccer, that they will play competitively year round. This continual use leads to overuse injuries that orthopedists like Dr. Gatt are treating with greater frequency.

“I attribute it to the fact that the intensity with which kids play sports these days has gone up markedly. The days of schoolyard basketball and kickball are over. Now everything is organized and kids are super specialized from a very young age. I see more and more kids playing one sport year round without opportunities to try other sports. The expectations that kids are putting on themselves and that parents are putting on them are much higher than before,” Dr. Gatt said.

The question that follows is then: what is the solution? How do parents reconcile their children playing competitive sports when they are experiencing these kinds of injuries at such young ages? Dr. Gatt, who refers to the number of children experiencing overuse injuries as “almost epidemic” emphasizes the importance of fun in youth sports. Rather than kids viewing sports as a very serious endeavor, athletic involvement should be presented as a relaxing, enjoyable activity for kids. He says, “These overuse injuries can lead to long term joint problems and disabilities later in life, but more importantly our kids should be having fun playing sports and avoiding these injuries.”

Dr. Gatt also emphasized the importance of parental and trainer involvement in monitoring children while they are playing sports. “Trainers see the kids every day and understand their mannerisms. They recognize it the earliest. It is incumbent on them to talk to the kids and their parents to start activity modification, the most important aspect of care.” Being able to recognize problems early and impose proper resting regulations prevents the injuries from becoming more serious or chronic.

If your child is an active youth athlete and you have concerns about overuse injuries, our team of specialists at UOA is available to discuss the specifics further. To make an appointment to talk to one of our experienced physicians visit uoanj.com or call 732-537-0909.