Knee Pain in Young Athletes: How to Prevent, Evaluate, and Manage
Posted on December 16, 2022 in Knee by Dr. Chris O'Grady
Posted on December 16, 2022 in Knee by Dr. Chris O'Grady
Encouraging our youth to participate in athletics instills a sense of self-confidence, comradery, and communication at a young age, however, many are concerned about injuries that can accompany playing sports. Unfortunately, injuries are sometimes unavoidable, however, there are steps that can be taken to prevent injury occurrence and properly evaluate and manage once an injury has occurred.
Prevention
Overuse injuries occur in athletes of all ages, however, they are most common in youth just getting into athletics. Factors that typically contribute to overuse injuries are sudden increase in intensity, duration, and volume of physical activity, poor sport-specific training/conditioning, and improper training techniques.
Evaluation
If an injury has occurred, there are several steps that need to be taken based on the severity of the event.
Management
An orthopaedic surgeon is the best resource to help plan a course of action after a knee injury. Whether or not surgery is necessary, an orthopaedic surgeon can offer alternative options, manage pain, and provide referrals to physical therapy if needed. Don’t be afraid to utilize resources! On our webpage, we have made rehab exercises, eBooks, appointment requests, and much more available.
Why Florida Bone & Joint Specialists?
Dr. Christopher O'Grady of North Florida Bone & Joint Specialists is specialized in performing knee and shoulder surgeries. As an Arthroscopy Association of North America instructor, he focuses on cutting-edge, advanced surgical techniques, ensuring he's up to date on the latest techniques. Every patient is offered the highest level of care, whether surgical or non-surgical. Dr. O'Grady and his entire staff work to treat every patient with compassion and concern. Set up a consultation with Dr. O'Grady today to discuss your options.
References
Patel, Dilip R.,Villalobos, Ana. “Evaluation and Management of Knee Pain in Young Athletes: Overuse Injuries of the Knee.” Translational Pediatrics 6.3 (2017): 190–198. PMC.
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Youth sports participation promotes physical health and leadership skills and is a positive outlet for children within our communities. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 3.5 million youth sports injuries occur each year in the U.S. Of those injuries, one in three participants seeks medical attention, resulting in lost sports and school time. Fortunately, the CDC also concluded that more than 50 percent of these injuries are preventable.