Overuse injuries in adolescents

The incidence of overuse injuries in young athletes is on the rise and accounts for a significant number of visits to the primary care office. There are distinctive intrinsic and extrinsic factors that place young athletes at risk for overuse injuries. These injuries vary in severity from being a temporary inconvenience to having potential lifelong morbidity. An understanding of the young athlete and their unique injuries is important for enabling early recognition and treatment. Prevention strategies are also discussed.

Ankle and Foot Injuries in Pediatric and Adult Athletes

Foot and ankle injuries are among the most common in athletes.Differential diagnosis, imaging decisions, and treatment plan should be influenced by the age of the athlete. A thorough history and physical examination, with an understanding of the anatomy of the foot and ankle anatomy and the mechanism of injury, will give the best opportunity to make the correct diagnosis. For most athletes, the prognosis for returning to play after a foot or ankle injury is very good. The recipe for keeping our athletes healthy includes early intervention, undergoing proper rehabilitation, applying braces or orthotics when indicated, and preventing injuries when appropriate.