For years, injuries in kids and adolescents have often been belittled and down played.
However, with research suggesting that 40% of all childhood injuries are sport related, a serious approach to all injuries is a must. As female participation rates also begin to even out with that of males across Australia, these sporting injury figures in our kids will only continue to climb.
If a child’s injury is not attended to quickly enough or taken seriously, the following implications can occur:
– It can lead to a delay in the injury healing as well as a delay back to the sporting field
– It can turn a simple, easy to treat injury into something that may be harder to treat
– It can affect long-term musculoskeletal health as they continue to grow
These kinds of sporting injuries can fall under two different categories:
– Micro: as a result of repetitive use or trauma
– Macro: as a result of a single, traumatic event such as a fracture
Overuse injuries are very common in children, particularly those who have very busy schedules and who play multiple sports. Generally, children like this fall victim to constant overuse injuries as the body as little time to rest and repair.
Overuse injuries are also seen in young athletes who compete at elite levels. Usually, their natural gift at their chosen sport(s) will be encouraged by multiple organisations (local school, local club, representative club) and as a result the child will be overloaded with exercise.
As kids have years ahead of them to enjoy sport, here are some tips that can help to reduce overuse injuries in young, enthusiastic kids:
– Emphasise the importance of stretching and flexibility
– Check that all protective sporting equipment are still in working order (helmets, shin pads etc.)
– Encourage your child to gently exercise or practice about a month before their sporting season begins
– Allow your child to feel confident telling their coach or trainer when they need a rest
It’s best to get any pain or a suspected injury in a child checked out by your local physiotherapist. They will be able to determine exactly what may be going on just by listening to a child’s sporting history and an accurate description of the symptoms and circumstances of the injury.
If your child, or a child you know may be overloading with exercise, book in an initial assessment with the team at Progressive Sports & Spinal Physiotherapy in Penrith by calling (02) 4721 7798.
At Progressive Sports and Spinal Physiotherapy Penrith, we are able to assess, treat, educate and manage all musculoskeletal injuries. We focus on hands-on treatment, exercise prescription and self management techniques tailored to your specific needs. We utilise evidence based treatments to maximise your outcomes.
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Elin, is an alumni of St. Edward’s University and holder of a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, furthered her academic journey by attaining a Doctor of Physiotherapy from Macquarie University in 2022.
Her passion for sports, particularly football (soccer), is evident in both her academic pursuits and personal endeavors. Specialising in the comprehensive well-being of athletes, Elin focuses on restoring them to peak performance while actively preventing future injuries.
Elin’s professional expertise is centered on musculoskeletal rehabilitation, with a specific emphasis on addressing and preventing knee injuries. Her approach integrates expert treatment with a commitment to educating and empowering patients, fostering their active involvement in enhancing their health and overall quality of life.
As an active participant in NPL football with SD Raiders, Elin brings firsthand experience and a profound understanding of the sport’s demands. Beyond the field, she extends her influence by contributing sports coverage over the weekends.
Christopher (Chris) Han graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor’s Degree in Occupational Therapy, and then completed the Doctor of Physiotherapy program at Macquarie University in 2018. Chris is currently undertaking his PhD at the University of Sydney and Institute for Musculoskeletal Health in the field of low back pain and is due to complete this in early 2024.
Chris is currently an assistant Physiotherapist for the NRL Referees. Chris has previous experience as the head Physiotherapist at Panthers Premier League Netball and a number of elite sporting athletes in the private setting.
Through Chris’ experiences, he has a particular interest in all areas of the body and musculoskeletal physiotherapy, sports, vestibular rehabilitation, and Men’s Health (pre and post prostate surgery).
Suzanne graduated from Western Sydney University with a Bachelor of Health Science (Sports and Exercise Science) in 2015. She then went on to continue her studies at Macquarie University graduating from the Doctor of Physiotherapy post-graduate degree in June 2019.
Since graduating, Suzanne has worked in the local Penrith area in both private practice and Sports Physiotherapy. Suzanne has worked with sporting teams including Penrith District Netball Association, Mt Druitt Rangers (NPL), Penrith Valley Figure Skating Club, and local dance and cheer schools.
Suzanne has a particular interest in working with artistic athletes including cheerleaders and dancers. She has a professional background in both cheer and dance and has previously worked as both a cheer coach and dance teacher. Suzanne’s previous experiences are an invaluable resource to her as a physiotherapist, as she has a thorough understanding of the level of physical fitness and skill acquisition that these athletes must have in order to be successful on stage and in competition.
Suzanne’s other areas of clinical interest reside in lower limb musculoskeletal injuries, spinal pathologies and women’s health.
Nathanial graduated as a physiotherapist in 2012 which saw him work in private practice and hospital settings gaining experience in all areas of physiotherapy including hand therapy, splinting/casting, pre/post-operative care, Men’s Health and general musculoskeletal, occupational and sports physiotherapy. Since then he has gone on to complete further studies in physiotherapy enabling him to be the only dual titled Musculoskeletal, Sports and Exercise Physiotherapist in Penrith.
Nathanial has a strong background in sports physiotherapy achieving accreditation with NSWIS as a service provider and working with many elite sports teams.
Nathanial has a particular interest in working with elite athletes, complex cases and in particular assessment and management of knee, hip and shoulder pain.
Andrea graduated from the Australian Catholic University completing her Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science in 2018 and Master’s of Clinical Exercise Physiology in 2020. After graduating she attained accreditation with ESSA as an Exercise Physiologist.
During her studies she gained clinical experience in both hospital and private practice settings, in cardiac rehabilitation, neurological conditions, cancer and chronic musculoskeletal injuries.
Since working at Progressive, Andrea has a specialist interest in treating musculoskeletal injuries, helping people in the mid-late stage of rehab to get them to return to sport or work. As well as helping people manage chronic conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and diabetes.