Playing with Pain

Less than a month ago, twelve year old Webb broke his ankle, but that didn’t stop him from playing baseball. He’s already back in the game. “I blocked the plate and he slid into my ankle but I still had the ball,” says Webb. “I got him out.”

It’s that kind of “make the play at all costs” attitude that has some experts concerned. More kids than ever are in organized sports and at younger ages. They learn early and often from peers and sometimes coaches to “suck it up” and “play through they pain.”

“You can push things harder and harder and eventually you may surpass what the body is able to withstand,” says Dr. Robert Frederick, a sports medicine specialist. Frederick says kids often won’t admit to minor aches and pains, fearing they’ll lose their spot on the team. So parents have to keep a watchful eye.

“You do have to keep kind of a sixth sense into reading what’s gong on and kind of develop a feel for someone who is pushing a little too hard,” says Frederick. Injuries treated early with ice, wraps and extra stretching can prevent more serious problems. Although, correcting a kid’s attitude may be more difficult.

What Parents Should Know

Parents often think that kids are naturally in shape, but sometimes kids are more sedentary than their parents. Unlike the generations before them, kids today spend a lot of time in front of the television and the computer. Organized sports force them to move quickly from sedentary to intense physical activity. It’s an intensity that some children’s bodies have not been conditioned to handle.

Experts say kids’ bodies are not made for intense, repetitive training. Young bones that are still forming and growing are not as strong as adult bones. Kids are particularly vulnerable to injury during puberty when growth spurts occur. Overuse of specific bones, muscles, and tissue can result in strains, sprains, and other problems.

Overuse injuries generally happen with repeated physical motion to enhance athletic skills. Before allowing children to participate in organized sports, parents need to know the coaches, the facility, and the equipment. The right coaching and equipment are crucial for making sure that kids don’t get hurt. Coaches need to understand physical limits and encourage kids to reach their individual potential.