Overuse Injuries in Student Athletes
Practice doesn’t always make perfect, especially if you are training too often or improperly. Overuse injuries are caused by repetitive stress to a muscle, bone or tendon can be subtle and develop over time.
These injuries can happen to people of all ages but are especially common in student athletes. When athletes take on too much, they don’t have time to recover, so tissue breakdown happens faster than the buildup that occurs when exercise is done properly.
Focusing on one sport at an early age without an adequate offseason or rest can lead to overuse injuries. Data suggests specialization in one sport before teenage years increases the risk of injury. “All student athletes should mix up their off-season routines to give their bodies time to recover,” said Patrick Denard, MD, Shoulder Surgeon with Southern Oregon Orthopedics.
Overuse injuries may be noticed when you begin to feel chronic pain even at rest. To prevent pain, make certain you are practicing the proper technique and give your body ample time to rest.
Common overuse injuries from sports such as baseball, basketball, tennis, soccer and others:
- Shoulder strain
- Torn ACL
- Stress fractures
- Growth plate injuries
- Patellar tendinitis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
- Tennis elbow
Tips for treating an overuse injury:
- Icing the injured area
- Using of anti-inflammatories
- Ensuring proper warm-up before starting activity
- Reducing the frequency, intensity, and duration of the practice
- Cross-train with other activities
- Work with a coach or trainer to learn proper technique
An alternative to Urgent Care
If the pain from a sports injury seems unmanageable, many believe they need to go to an emergency room or urgent care. Although they may be able to help you, a generalist will likely see you – not an orthopedic specialist. You will walk out with a referral to have a second appointment with a specialist.
For any orthopedic injury, it is best to see a specialist first so conditions are more accurately diagnosed and properly treated. Southern Oregon Orthopedics offers an orthopedic walk-in clinic in Medford, where fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons provide urgent care to people of all ages.
If you think you are suffering from an overuse injury or have a non-emergent injury, call ahead, or walk in without an appointment for orthopedic treatment today.
Orthopedic Walk-In Clinic at Southern Oregon Orthopedics
2780 E Barnett Rd #200, Medford, OR 97504
Phone: (541) 779-6250