Is there anything quite like summer as a kid in Texas? School is out, the sunshine never seems to dissipate, and recreational sports are in full swing. With all the fun and excitement summer brings, some risks are still involved. All the time spent being active outdoors and playing sports can often lead to a rise in injuries. To prepare for days spent at rec parks and swimming pools, learn about common sports injuries and how to best resolve them.
Shoulder Injury
From baseball to tennis, there are countless summer sports that can wear down a child’s shoulder. The overworking, overstretching, and overuse of the shoulder can lead to injuries such as:
- Muscle strain
- Dislocations
- Misalignments
- Rotator cuff tendonitis and tears
- Labral and superior labral anteroposterior tears
- Fractures and arthritis
Although there is some risk involved in summer sports, that doesn’t mean children should abstain from these activities. According to research developed by the PCSFN Science Board, participating in youth sports has multiple benefits, including:
- Lower rates of anxiety and depression
- Increased cognitive performance
- Improved bone health
- Reduced risk of cancer and diabetes
To help avoid shoulder injuries, young athletes should ease into these summertime activities and participate in muscle strengthening exercises, as well as some gentle stretching.
Knee Injury
Similar to shoulder injuries, knee injuries can become more common in the summer for kids because of the uptick in recreational sports like soccer and cross country. Some common knee injuries that occur from playing sports include:
- Knee dislocation
- Bursitis
- Patellar fracture
- Tendonitis
- Knee ligament injuries
- Iliotibial band syndrome
- Meniscal injury
Wearing supportive shoes, avoiding muscle over-training, and doing warm-ups before exercises help in preventing these common sports-related knee injuries.
Summer Sports Injury Care
If your child has experienced a shoulder or knee injury while participating in summer recreational activities, it’s important they receive proper medical care. An experienced orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine doctor can help your child get back to feeling — and playing — their best. Sometimes proper stretching, strengthening, and rest are all that are needed for recovery. Other times, shoulder surgery and knee surgery are necessary to fix nagging injuries.
Contact K. Mathew Warnock, MD, in Houston, Texas
K. Mathew Warnock, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with years of experience helping athletes recover from sports-related injuries. Contact us today to learn more about all the services we offer.