[Lesions of the growth plate caused by sports stress]

Besides the positive physiological, psychological and social aspects, sports activities in adolescents bear the risk of injuries and overuse of the locomotor system. Previous examinations have shown that increased stress to the growth plates by sports activities, in relation to the intensity of strain during growth spurts, can influence normal growth. In female gymnasts, hormonal changes can decrease the growth speed and long-term growth. On the other hand, during more intensive phases of growth the column cartilage of the growth plate is the weakest part of the locomotor system because of the influence of somatotropin and low levels of testosterone. This can cause subchondral stress fractures in the growing cartilage that later on, if missed or not sufficiently treated, can cause osteochondrosis dissecans. The apophysis of tendons of big muscle groups can show loosening of the apophysis caused by increased muscle strength and acute or chronic microtrauma. Male adolescents show an incidence of lesions in the relation of 9:1 to female adolescents. The therapy for apophyseal lesions is generally nonoperative. Due to the persistent growth possibility, pseudotumors can occur, which can cause problems in differential diagnosis among skeletal tumors. Too high pressure, pushing and tearing forces can influence growth. Later examinations of previous high-level sportsmen and patients with coxarthrosis with and without a sports history show that blockage of the rotation of the foot during growth, for example caused by soccer shoes, can cause high pushing forces on the femoral epiphysis, which can lead to epiphyseolysis cap. fem. lenta and thereby to pre-arthritic deformities. This is overcorrection of the "physiological" epiphyseolysis, described by Morscher. Knowledge of the reduced strength of the growth plate indicates better adaptation of training and supervision of the adolescent high-level sportsman. A regular check-up of the growing athlete and a reduction in sports intensity during the growth spurts, prohibition of negative training parts and sometimes even prohibition of sports at all, if there is a lesion of the growth plate or hormonal disorders, are sometimes necessary to minimize late defects. In addition to this, a reduction of strain in some sports and, for example, prohibition of rotation-blocking soccer shoes in the adolescent soccer player is necessary.