As summer winds down, student athletes across the country are eagerly returning to the familiar rhythm of school life and sports. Participation in sports is a great complement to a student’s academic career and helps to build discipline, alleviate stress, and create social connections. The medical professionals on the Syracuse Orthopedic Specialists (SOS) Sports Medicine Team are working with student athletes to prevent and treat injuries, and are hoping to raise awareness about smart sporting practices.
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, in the United States approximately 30 million kids and teens participate in school sports. Each year, more than 3.5 million of those youngsters suffer an injury. The surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers on the SOS Sports Medicine Team make the prevention of such injuries is a top priority.
For several years, medical professionals from SOS have joined the players on the sidelines, providing immediate treatment to injured athletes in order to mitigate damage. “Working with local high schools has been a top priority for the physicians on SOS’ sports medicine team,” comments Todd Battaglia, MD, president of SOS. “SOS is committed to educating and treating student athletes to help keep them in the game for a lifetime.”
SOS sports medicine physicians work closely with athletic trainers and physical therapists to provide training room coverage, sideline medical attention, and injury prevention clinics. Athletic trainers from SOS work directly with local schools, supporting all team sports. They join the teams beginning with pre-season practices and remain with them through the season, including post-season practice and play if necessary.
The combined goal of SOS physicians and athletic trainers is to help prevent injuries, keep athletes safe, and ensure maximum recovery should an injury occur. “High school sports should be a fun, enriching experience for students, keeping them healthy and fit, and teaching them teamwork and sportsmanship,” comments Dr. Battaglia.
The SOS team knows that overuse injuries are a significant concern for high school athletes who often push their bodies to the limit in the pursuit of excellence. These injuries, resulting from repetitive strain and insufficient recovery time, can sideline young athletes and possibly have long-term consequences. The SOS Sports Medicine Team counsels players, coaches, and parents on how to prevent such injuries.
Proper training techniques are crucial in preventing overuse injuries. Coaches and trainers should emphasize the importance of good form and technique in all sports activities, including ensuring athletes are using the correct equipment, such as well-fitting shoes, and adhering to sport-specific guidelines. Additionally, strength and conditioning programs should be tailored to the individual needs of athletes, focusing on building a strong foundation of core strength, flexibility, and overall fitness. Cross-training, or participating in a variety of sports, can also help reduce repetitive stress on specific muscle groups and joints. Adequate rest and recovery are equally important in the prevention of overuse injuries. High school athletes should be encouraged to listen to their bodies and recognize the signs of fatigue and overtraining.
Participation in sports promotes physical health, mental well-being, and resilience, all of which are beneficial for students. As student athletes lace up their shoes and hit the fields once more, SOS will be on the sidelines cheering them on, keeping injuries to a minimum, and ensuring athletes can enjoy participating in their sport for years to come.
High School Athlete Injury Rates by Sport
In 2023, a study entitled, “Epidemiology of Sports Injuries Among High School Athletes in the US,” was presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. Injuries rates were measured as number of injuries per 1,000 athlete-exposures (one practice or game). The study found:
- Football had the highest rate of injury (3.96), followed by girls’ soccer (2.65) and boys’ wrestling (1.56). Football accounted for 44% of all injuries from 2015 to 2019. Boys’ baseball had the lowest injury rate (0.89).
- Boys’ sports had higher injury rates (2.52) compared to girls’ sports (1.56).
- More injuries were seen in competition compared to practice, with football having the greatest risk of injury during competition (6.14) followed by girls’ soccer (4.84). Overall, boys’ sports had a higher relative rate of injury during competition (3.70) compared to girls’ sports (2.96).
- The head/face was the most commonly injured body site (24.2%) followed by the ankle (17.6%) and the knee (14.1%).
- The most common diagnoses were sprains/strains (36.8%) and concussions (21.6%).
- Of all injuries, 39.2% resulted in a time loss of less than one week, and 34% injured were out for one to three weeks. Only 7% of injuries resulted in athletes being unable to participate in their sport for more than three weeks.
- Overall, 20.9% of injuries led to medical disqualification for the season or the athlete’s career, the athlete being out for the season, or the athlete’s decision to no longer play the sport.
- Surgery was required for 6.3% of injuries, with wrestling (9.6%), girls’ basketball (7.6%) and boys’ baseball (7.4%) having the highest rates.