Helping athletic children and adolescents navigate through injury.
Children and adolescents frequently sustain injuries from trauma, sports, or play. These may be acute, chronic, or overuse injuries. While young athletes often recover quickly, their injuries differ from adults because the immature skeletal system is still developing. Stress that an adult’s body can tolerate may cause damage in a child, particularly to growth plates, apophyses and joint surfaces. Rapid physical changes during growth also increase susceptibility to injury. Early treatment is essential, as child/ adolescent injuries can affect long-term musculoskeletal health. Notably, up to one-third of adolescents report musculoskeletal pain monthly or more, with prevalence rising sharply during growth due to both rapid skeletal changes and high activity levels.
This plan takes into account the child’s age, lifestyle, and sporting goals, and may include bodyweight exercises, resistance bands, gym balls, or strength equipment. Programs are sport-specific, progressive, and designed to restore fundamental movement patterns. Where appropriate, collaboration with coaches supports a safe and timely return to sport.
