[Sports medicine aspects in children and adolescents]

In opposite to adults, exercise and sports are natural elements in the life of children and adolescents. However, they gain new aspects in the modern achievement-oriented society. The competitive sports are moving more and more towards the children's and adolescents's age. Additionally, sport should be done early during live for prevention of civilization diseases later on. Finally, physical therapy gains growing importance in the therapy and rehabilitation of children and adolescents. As to strength, children are not just 'small adults'. In children, the physical capacity in the aerobic range is larger and in the anaerobic range is smaller than in adults. The question of trainability and talent, respectively, plays an important role in the competitive sport as well as in the consultation of children for their sport career. The danger of the child during sport is discussed from the view of internal and orthopedic medicine. Concepts of sports medical preventions are derived from this discussion. The question of sports with pre-existing diseases in children and adolescents is only marginally discussed.