Take It Easy, Sports Parents April 8, 2009

Children’s hospitals are treating more sports injuries in children caused by overuse. While most parents behave reasonably when it comes to pushing their children too far, a growing number find it difficult to let go of their dream for their children to play pro or college sports.

These parents, and the overzealous coaches and sports leagues that enable them, are partly to blame for a significant increase in children’s overuse injuries. Such injuries prime the injured child for further complications as they mature.

For example, children who are injured are much more likely to develop chronic back pain and arthritis in their 20s and 30s, not 50s or 60s like the rest of us. In addition, a child’s overuse injury can lead to permanent abnormalities.

Pediatric orthopedic surgeons are now reporting that many young athletes are pushing themselves too hard or are being pushed too hard. The unfortunate result is increasingly severe overuse injuries that can affect the children many years into their future.

Every year, 3.5 million children  under the age of 14 get hurt playing sports, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Overuse injuries typically occur in competitive sports, most commonly baseball, basketball, running, gymnastics and swimming.

The number of American children 5 to 14 years old who get injured playing sports each year resulting in emergency room treatment:

*     Bicycling: 285,000
*     Basketball: 205,400
*     Football: 185,700
*     Baseball/softball: 117,000
*     Soccer: 75,000