Back-to-School, Back-to-Sports: Common Injuries We See in Fall

Sports injuries make up 20% of all injury-related emergency room (ER) visits among children and teenagers, and about 12 million people suffer from sports injuries yearly. Whether your child is playing football, running cross-country, or playing volleyball or soccer this fall, injuries are a common concern.

See the specialists at Summit Orthopaedics in Lake Oswego, Oregon, for an evaluation if your child develops pain or an obvious injury while playing or training for fall sports.

5 common fall sports injuries

Below are examples of common sports injuries experienced during fall sports training:

1. Sprains and strains

Tearing or overstretching ligaments (sprains) and muscles and/or tendons (strains) are injuries many fall athletes face. The ankles, hamstrings, knees, wrists, and other joints are common sites for strains and sprains. Treatment may consist of home remedies or medical intervention. 

2. Fractures

Fractures are also common fall-sport injuries, especially among athletes playing football and other contact sports. Stress fractures may develop from overuse and take several weeks or months to heal. Early detection of a small fracture helps your child avoid a severe break. 

3. Overuse injuries

Overtraining can lead to shin splints, swimmer’s shoulder, runner’s knee, tendinitis, and other overuse injuries. Encourage your child to gradually increase their sports training, rather than becoming a weekend warrior. 

4. Concussions

A blow to the head while playing contact sports or falling down can lead to a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which requires plenty of rest time to avoid further damage. Signs of a concussion include confusion, blacking out, seeing stars, headaches, and dizziness.

5. Dislocations

A dislocation occurs when two bones forming a joint become separated. This injury is common among football athletes, basketball players, and other athletes playing high-impact sports, contact sports, or sports involving extreme loads. Dislocations often occur in the shoulder, knee, elbow, knee, and finger joints.

Immediate treatment is typically required to move dislocated bones back into their proper alignment. 

Signs of fall sports injuries

Signs of injuries to watch for this fall include:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Redness
• Bruising
• Warmth
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Headaches
• Visible joint or bone deformities
• Bleeding

If your child’s injury is ongoing or severe, don’t wait to seek treatment. Visit with the Summit Orthopaedics experts as soon as possible to maximize their recovery.

Ways to reduce the risk of back-to-school sports injuries

Reducing back-to-school fall sports injuries involves wearing protective equipment while playing contact sports and choosing comfortable, well-fitting footwear. Avoid overtraining, cross train to help prevent overuse injuries, and warm up and stretch before workouts. It’s also helpful to ease up or rest at the first signs of a minor injury to avoid worsening problems. 

Schedule a sports injury evaluation today at Summit Orthopaedics by contacting us by phone at 503-850-9940 or requesting an appointment online.