As we have discussed in our two most recent blog posts, youth & adolescent sports injuries are quite common. It is likely that if your child plays a competitive sport for a few years that he or she will have a significant injury as it is estimated that 1/3 of all youth athletes will have an injury severe enough to keep them out of multiple games or practices each year.
We discussed how bicycle falls, football, basketball, baseball/softball, and soccer are the most common activities for active kids & teenagers to develop pain or injury. So with this information, we thought it would be appropriate to then present what the injury rates are for various sports and activities for active kids & youth sports stars!
We at St. Johns Chiropractic & Performance, want to make it clear in this article that we strongly believe that the benefits of youth athletics outweigh the risks which include injuries. However, since we are very passionate about youth athletics and consider this an area of our expertise, we want to present you with the best information out there on the subject so that you are well educated as a local parent, Physical Education (PE) teacher, or sports coach!
Diagnosing & Treating Pediatric Injuries In St. Johns County
At St. Johns Chiropractic & Performance, we help active adults & youth athletes get out of pain quickly & rehabilitate their injuries so they can get back to doing what they love without limitation. Dr. Grant Speer is an expert at treating youth sports injuries and has an extensive background in diagnosing aches & pains, finding the root cause of the injury, pain reduction techniques, and rehabilitating the injured tissue to prevent further injury.
We have helped many young athletes in Saint Johns, Florida with joint, muscle, and nerve pain and have given them lasting solutions to help them stay active without pain!
What Sports Cause The Most Injuries in Northeast Florida
As we mentioned in a previous blog; bicycle accidents, football, basketball, soccer, and baseball/softball seem to be the activities in sports that cause the most injuries. However, this could simply be because a lot of kids playing sports. This does not prove that they are actually the most dangerous athletic events.
Other data that we have found shows the rates which playing their respective physical sports. Football did come in at the highest injury rate at between 41-61%. (1) After football came wrestling and gymnastics at 40-46%. With basketball coming in next just a little lower at 31-37%. Then volleyball, baseball/softball, soccer, track and field, and cross country came in between 7-18%. (1)
It is important to highlight that the accuracy of these statistics are simply the best we have at the time but they are certainly not going to be 100% accurate. It is very difficult to track every single sports injury at every clinic and hospital in the United States and give a detailed report.
Most Common Sports Injuries in Jacksonville, Florida
Here, we will highlight a couple specific injuries because they are more severe than others. We will talk about concussions and ACL injuries. Again, we see that the statistics are likely not 100% accurate but they are currently the best that we have.
How about 40 football players out of 10,000 will have a concussion each year. In our experience here at the clinic, this number is likely much higher but again the best statistics are only as accurate as the people who report them. Wrestling and cheerleading come in at number two and three on the concussion chart with between 12 and 15 athletes out of 10,000 suffering from this injury each year. (2)
ACL injuries seem to be much higher in soccer, basketball, and volleyball – usually in that order. You will notice that these sports require a lot of jumping, change of directions, and sudden movements that can be sometimes more stressful on the joints, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and bones. We also mentioned in our last blog that females have a much higher likelihood to injure their. Some research even shows that females are eight times more likely to tear their ACL as compared to males. (2)
Again, we are not calling for you to ban these sports or to not let your children participate in them. We simply want to educate the public on some of the risks associated with specific sports. We deeply believe that the many positives associated with youth sports heavily outweigh the risks involved.
What To Do About Youth Athletics Injuries in 32259
To receive a proper diagnosis and the best treatment in your area, it is important to go to a conservative sports medicine provider like a physical therapist or a chiropractor that is well-versed in pediatrics, orthopedics, sports injuries, and demands and biomechanics of your sport or activity. They will take you through an in-depth assessment that includes a full body physical screening, evaluating how the athlete moves, and fully assessing the muscles, joints, nerves, and bones. They also can provide treatment options such as manipulation, myofascial release, cupping therapy, sports taping, rehab exercises, and much more!
If you know someone in the Saint Johns, Florida area (Durbin Crossing, Aberdeen, RiverTown, Julington Creek Plantation, Beachwalk, Silverleaf) who is not able to live the active lifestyle that they want because of an injury or pain and could benefit from our thorough approach and comprehensive care, please share this post with them or send them our way!
We are conveniently located just south of Jacksonville in between CR 210 and Race Track Road, near where St. Johns Parkway and Longleaf Pine intersect! Right across the street from Patriot Oaks Academy in the 32259 zip code! Only 4 minutes from Durbin Park! We are committed to offering the best chiropractic care near you!
We help active adults & youth athletes get out of pain quickly & rehabilitate their injuries so they can get back to doing what they love pain-free! So, whether you’re looking to make a lifestyle change, recover from chronic pain, or become a better athlete, our experts at St. Johns Chiropractic & Performance can help you improve.
Do you need a chiropractor in St. Johns, Florida? Contact or call/text us today at 904-217-7078 to schedule your appointment.
References
- Adirim TA, Cheng TL. Overview of injuries in the young athlete. Sports Med. 2003;33(1):75-81. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200333010-00006. PMID: 12477379.
- https://www.safekids.org/preventing-sports-related-injuries
