The key to preventing future sports injuries is to identify risk factors and make changes before the athlete suffers an injury or establishes patterns that can cause overuse injuries.
A lack of preseason conditioning and preparation is a significant risk factor contributing to sports injuries. Young athletes usually begin intense, competitive sports participation after being inactive for months. They are often unprepared for the intense activity that is expected of them at the beginning of the season.
Risk factors for sports injuries include:
- Lack of pre-participation physical exams
- Hazardous playing fields
- Conditioning and training errors
- Lack of, improper, poorly fitted or inadequate safety equipment
- Playing while injured or overtired
- Declining fitness levels of children
- Grouping teams by age instead of size
- Poor nutrition
- Improper technique (e.g., in tennis, improper swing can lead to tennis injury)
- Inadequate supervision
- Psychological stress
- Weather conditions
- Growth (e.g., bones grow faster than ligaments and tendons; inflexibility can lead to injury)
- Lack of rules and officials
The specialists at Children's Hospital Colorado can help evaluate a young athlete for risk factors and establish a plan to ensure their safe return to a sport.
Sportsmetrics™ injury prevention and performance training
Did you know that every year 1 in 100 high school female athletes will suffer a serious knee injury?
Our Sportsmetrics progam teaches athletes the correct way to jump and land in order to prevent knee injury and enhance performance. Sportsmetrics™ is a comprehensive jump training program that combines plyometrics, strength training and flexibility. It is the only scientifically proven program that reduces the risk of knee injury, increases jump power and improves leg strength for sports like soccer, basketball and volleyball that involve pivoting, cutting or jumping. Ages 12-18 welcome!
Learn more about sports and common orthopedic injuries.
Preventing sports injuries in kids
STOP Sports Injuries
At Children’s Hospital Colorado, we’re proud to be part of the STOP Sports Injuries movement as an organization that promotes activities to help address sports trauma and overuse prevention. Learn more about how this campaign keeps kids in the game for life.