Game On or Time Out? How to Spot Youth Sports Injuries

Between the backyard, soccer field and gym; your kids are active, and nothing slows them down. But no matter how invincible they seem, children are prone to injuries, especially during sports seasons. Even under the calmest of circumstances, it can be hard to figure out exactly what’s wrong. Especially when they’re writhing in pain. So, how do you know if it’s a sprain, strain or fracture? We’re here to help you tell the difference — and get your athlete back up and running.

Learn to recognize the signs

Prepare for your child’s sports season by knowing the most common injures, how they happen, and the signs and symptoms that can help you distinguish between them. It’s also important to pass along this knowledge to the young athletes in your family, so they can relay details to help you make good care decisions. Common sports injuries among student athletes include strains, sprains and breaks.

Strains

A strain is a muscle injury and is most commonly a partial tear. One way to pinpoint a strain is recognizing that your child’s pain is in a muscle that does heavy lifting, like back muscles, a hamstring or a quad. The resulting symptoms, include muscle pain, weakness, spasms, cramps and swelling. Your child may have difficulty moving the affected muscle.

Sprains

Sprains are an injury to ligaments and are found around joints. A sprain is a tear of a ligament. Common joints that are sprained include the ankle, knee, shoulder and fingers. Another tell-tale sign of a sprain is hearing a pop or tear when the injury happens. Your child may also experience pain around the affected area, with bruising and swelling.

Fractures

A fracture is just another term for a broken bone. Most breaks happen when kids fall awkwardly, like with outstretched arms. Of all these injuries, fractures are usually the easiest to spot. In more severe cases, the break will be visible, with the bone either appearing to be placed at an awkward angle or breaking through the skin. Milder fractures, on the other hand, may not be visible to the naked eye, but there could be bruising and swelling around the site.

With any fracture, your child will likely also feel throbbing pain, tenderness around the site, numbness or tingling. It may also be difficult — or impossible — to put weight on the broken bone.

Know when to get treatment

Behind every goal, touchdown and home run is rest — and lots of it. And that goes double when your student athlete is injured. Doctors recommend the “RICE” method (Rest; Ice, Compress and Elevate), as the best remedy for strains and sprains.

When a broken bone is suspected, however, it’s time to see a doctor for an X-Ray and a  cast or other type of brace.  

No matter the type of injury, an accident means no sports for a few weeks or months. And while it can be hard for your young athlete to allow the time they need to recover, it’s important to remind them the goal is total healing — and that they won’t be on the sidelines forever.  

Your one-stop shop for youth sports injuries

When pain takes your athlete out of the game, you may need help making the next move. Luminis Health experts diagnose and treat children in our same-day and next-day clinics, with appointments available seven days a week, including evenings. We also offer imaging and second opinions to give you peace of mind. Sudden injuries deserve immediate care, and to us, it’s about more than just treating injuries—it’s about getting your athlete back to scoring goals, hitting home runs, and, most importantly, being a kid. And that’s a win for everyone.  

Book an appointment today. 

Daniel Redziniak, MD is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine.