Common injuries in the child or adolescent athlete

As more primary care physicians enter the field of Sports Medicine, they will inevitably encounter more injured young athletes than what they may have experienced in their private practices. Recognizing the differences that exist between the young athlete and adult is essential in properly diagnosing and rehabilitating these athletes. As mentioned in our previous article (Caring for the School-Aged Athlete, Primary Care, December 1994), comprehensive care of the young athlete can be quite involved and somewhat different from care of the adult population. This article focuses on some specific injuries unique to younger, skeletally immature athletes, while mentioning the differential diagnosis of some of the other common sports injuries shared by both younger and older athletes.