Youth Sports Safety: Preventing Common Injuries with Dr. Eric Small

Common Spring Sports Injuries

• ⚾ Baseball and softball commonly lead to overuse injuries in the elbow, such as "little league elbow" or ligament injuries in older teens.
• 👟 The most frequent sports injury across all ages is an ankle sprain.
• 🏃 Running sports like soccer and lacrosse often result in shin pain and knee pain.

Injury Prevention Strategies

• 🗓️ Pre-season practice for about a month, three times a week, can help prevent overuse and acute injuries.
• ⚠️ For those with prior injuries, it's crucial to restore range of motion, strength, and balance to prevent re-injury.
• 🔥 Adequate warm-up and cool-down routines are critical for both injury treatment and prevention.

When to Seek Medical Help

• 🩺 If an injury persists for more than one to two weeks, consult a sports medicine physician.
• ✅ Ensure there is no pain during sports-specific activities like running, squatting, or jumping before returning to play.
• 🏋️ Strength and conditioning programs, both pre-season and during the season, are essential components of care.