Dr. Netaji Jadhav
Associate Professor, Bharati Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University), College
of Physical Education, Pune
Abstract:
The participation of youth in sports
has been rapidly growing over the years and has become a multi-billion-dollar
industry. Physical activity is highly important for mental development among
children, however, there are also rising risks of sports-related injuries. The
purpose of the article has been to analyse the common injuries which are
experienced by the youth and highlight a pattern in these injuries. Multiple
patterns have been seen within the study, as the injuries are seen to be more
common among men than women due to their high participation in the field of
sports, whereas thigh and knee-related injuries are also seen to be
exceptionally common compared to other forms. A sports medicine perspective is
crucial for developing strategies, and therefore, different pieces of past
literature have been studied that focus on proper monitoring and interventions
that can ensure the long-term well-being of the youth.
Keywords: Youth, sports, athletes, injury, PPEs, recovery, rest,
training
1. Introduction
The youth sports participation has
seen a dramatic increase over the years, with millions of young children and
adolescents entering the field every year. Statista (2024) reports showcase
that youth sports is a big industry which includes both organised sport leagues
as well as recreational activities. In the year 2022, the global youth sports
market was estimated to be around 37.5 billion US dollars and is expected to
grow at a rate of 9.2% until 2030. The diversity of India’s population and
culture also has an immense influence on the popularity of different sports in
the country. However, the increase in sports participation also increases
injuries among athletes. Musculoskeletal injuries are some of the most common
forms of injuries that are observed in youth sports. This is because children
generally do not possess the complex motor skills which are required for
certain sports. As children transition towards adolescence, both acute and
overuse injuries have been observed among children (Costa e Silva, Teles &
Fragoso, 2022). Bones undergo rapid growth in contrast to the soft tissues,
which makes the children more prone to injuries. Over 3.5 million children over
the age of 14 get hurt annually while playing sports, and the highest rate is
observed in sports which involve direct contact and collisions (Stanford
Medicine, 2025). The purpose of the present research has therefore been to
identify the patterns of injuries among the youth for developing preventative
strategies.
2. Common Injury Patterns in Youth Sports
Past studies on injury patterns have
revealed that only around 10% of all injuries sustained by youth athletes are
recurrent, while 23% of them experience two or more injuries per season. Most
of the injuries are observed in the lower extremities of the body, with the
thighs being one of the most common areas for injury, followed by the knee
(MartÃnez-Silván et al. 2021). There are essentially two different types of
common injuries among the youth these are acute and overuse injuries. Acute
injuries account for 48.9% of all injuries, whereas 65.9% of the injuries are
caused because of overuse injuries. Acute injuries refer to sprains, fractures,
dislocations, and concussions. Whereas overuse or chronic injuries are the ones
that take place over a long period of time, stress fractures that develop from
cracks in the bone, tendonitis and Osgood-Schlatter disease. Overuse injuries
are therefore a result of a gradual onset caused due to repeated microtraumas;
this is different from acute injuries, as acute injuries take place due to a
specific event (Ritzer et al. 2021). Specialists generally classify the injured
body part among young athletes in five segments, which include the head, trunk,
upper extremity, lower extremity and other. Gender of the athlete is a defining
factor for understanding the common injury patterns among the youth, as female
athletes are seen to suffer from more overuse injuries, while males experience
more acute injuries. However, the participation of men in fields of sports
compared to women leads to them experiencing more of both kinds of injuries.
Introduction of acute injury prevention efforts in sports such as football,
which causes many of the acute injuries, can therefore help reduce impact and
the likelihood of experiencing such injuries. While lower body acute injuries
are common, the youth also experiences high amounts of injury on their head,
face and neck region, leading to concussions, which are 1/4th of all the acute
injuries experienced by children (Ritzer et al. 2021). In contrast to acute
injuries, overuse injuries are seen to be recurrent, as 19% of the injuries
fall in this category. The nature of the injuries also significantly differs.
For acute injuries, a proper timeline can be constructed for the youth to heal
and return to the field; however, for overuse injuries, this cannot be carried
out, as these injuries are generally more subjective.
3. Contributing Factors to Youth Sports Injuries
Determining the factors which cause
injury among the youth has been considered to be equally important because it
helps in understanding the risks associated with it. Training load, sports
technique, age of the youth, as well as the number of hours practised per week,
influence the injuries (Prieto-González et al. 2021). Learning about the
different factors can not only help in saving the life of the athlete but also
in creating new innovative prevention techniques that can prevent further
injury in the future. Not all sports are the same, and therefore, certain
sports are more likely to cause injuries than others. Although soccer is
considered a safe sport, it also has a higher chance of injury rate compared to
other sports such as rugby, basketball and American football. This is because
soccer, or just football, is a high-intensity sport which involves physical
contact, sprints and jumps (Mandorino et al. 2023). Athletes participating in
soccer also require greater intensity and physical effort than what was
required in the past. The increased exposure to training increases the risk of
injuries among the youth than in adults. Likewise, there are also other factors
which influence these conditions, previous injuries of the player, familial
disposition, and physical stress are different factors which also make an
individual more likely to experience injury (Hausken-Sutter et al. 2021). The
youth also requires proper resting periods between practice; overtraining can
lead to a greater amount of overuse injuries.
4. Sports Medicine Perspective: Prevention Strategies
Even though many of the injuries
sustained through youth sports are recoverable, there are certain catastrophic
injuries which involve fatalities and severe head and neck injuries that can
permanently disable an individual. Developing action plans for responding to
these injuries is therefore considered to be highly critical. A
pre-participation physical examination (PPE) is carried out for most sports by
a physician to take note of any underlying medical conditions that can enhance
the chances of the individual experiencing catastrophic injuries (Boden &
Anderson, 2024). PPEs are known to provide the trainers, coaches and other
medical professionals associated with the sport with valuable information that
can save the life of the athlete and assist them in providing proper
rehabilitation. PPE is beneficial as it reduces the likelihood of experiencing
any form of injury and ensures that the students and youth participating are
getting their health and well-being prioritised.
In addition to PPE, sports medicine
practitioners also collect information about the training load that is taken by
the individual and develop a proper response towards helping the individual.
Injuries acquired through sports need to be treated early because the risk
associated with them increases with time if left unattended. There are many
low-risk injuries, such as muscular injuries, apophysitis, and anterior knee
pain, all of which can be fixed with modifications and lower rehabilitation
(Jayanthi et al. 2022). Sports-related injuries have mixed effects on the youth
and the chance of developing overuse injury, and therefore need to be treated
effectively. Rapid increase in the training load is usually associated with
higher chances of incurring injuries, Athletes also share that they experienced
increased groin pain with more training load. The athletes also need to be
provided with adequate recovery time to overcome the problems they have been
experiencing and reduce the risk of both internal and external training load.
Recovery between training is also known to enhance the performance and the
health of the athlete, and better coordinate their activities and overcome the
challenges that they face. The development of appropriate training programs is
also known to reduce the chances of experiencing more injuries and reduce the
risk associated with training (Verstappen et al. 2021). Training programs are
known for reducing the risk of injuries and attaining peak performance.
Training also causes a positive attitude among the young athletes and makes
them feel more confident. Treating minor injuries early on and providing them
with proper rehabilitation is seen to improve the health of the youth and
enhance their strength and flexibility.
5. Conclusion
The present research has provided a
detailed overview of the rise of youth sports over the decades and the risks
and injuries associated with this practice. Though there are several benefits
of youth sports, it also increases the chances of injuries and therefore,
preventative measures need to be developed which help in reducing the chances
of these injuries. The findings of the study reveal acute and overuse injuries
to be common among the youth and are further influenced by their training
intensity, the type of sports they are playing, gender and the lack of rest
periods. The study has discussed the need for developing monitoring techniques
and training programs which can increase the awareness of the trainers and
medical professionals associated with the sport.
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