Sports Medicine and Orthopedic FAQs

Preventing Injuries in Youth Sports

Q. My child plays football, baseball and soccer. What can I do as a parent to help him reduce the risk of a sports injury?

A. One of the most common problems in youth sport is inadequate equipment. Too often equipment is worn and padding that could otherwise help protect against an injury is insufficient. And while it is common practice to use borrowed equipment, poor fit can also predispose a player to injury. It is important to ensure that they start with the appropriate equipment.

Instilling basic safety disciplines will also benefit a young athlete throughout their life - including stretching and warming muscles before engaging in activity, remaining hydrated and recognizing and addressing pain before it escalates and prompts a more serious injury. Also recognizing fatigue is key. More injuries result when players are overtired and not allowed to adequately "recharge." This is particularly common in today's youth sports as seasons become extended and often overlap with other sports in which a young athlete is involved.

Q. How should I encourage my child to "train" in a way that helps him both excel in his sport and avoid injury?

A. While the appropriate age to begin weight training is open for debate and parental and physician discretion, strength training can begin as early as a child begins sports and does not have to include iron of any sort. Once a child begins to endure the rigors of a sport, they are capable of working muscles using their own weight as resistance.

Physical endurance exercises such as running/jogging, swimming and circuit training helps not only strengthen muscles in the limbs they’ll be using in their sport but also those of the heart and lung. Endurance training will equip young athletes for the rigorous practice and game schedules, reducing fatigue and related risks of injury associated with players who are overtired.

Stretching exercises are also effective in keeping limbs loose and flexible. Working closely with the physician an acceptable training program can be developed to help reduce the child's risk of injury and ensure many years of sports enjoyment.

Fractures & Dislocations

Q. Will a break early in life put the limb at greater risk for breaks in the future?

A. If a fracture is properly treated there should be no greater risk of another break or future problems as a result of that injury. If a displaced fracture is not properly aligned, it will compromise the limb - creating an unstable joint environment. An unstable joint environment can prompt a number of conditions throughout life, and ultimately result in osteoarthritis. It is very important to address fractures as soon as they happen, whether it seems severe or not.

Also, the bones of children are far more pliable than those of an adult and less likely to cause lingering problems into adulthood. Older bones and breaks in those of adults pose a much greater risk for future problems.

Q. How do I know if the Growth Plates Are Affected in my child's broken limb and if so, is he at a greater risk of healing improperly?

A. While fractures and dislocations are very common injuries in children, growth plate injuries and permanent growth problems related to them are actually rare. Though, there is a risk.

The growth plates in children represent an area where new bone cells are quickly dividin - generally located at the end of the long bones. The long bones of the body do not grow from the center outward, but rather at each end of the bone around the growth plate. The growth plate is the last part of the bone to harden, or ossify, leaving it vulnerable to a fracture.

The role of the growth plate is to regulate growth and help determine the length and shape of the mature bone. Following a serious break to this area, bones may grow more slowly or more quickly than they should. The growth may also be unaffected. This is why it is important for all fractures to be seen by an orthopedic doctor.

Since the bones of children heal faster than those of an adult, it is important that fractures are quickly corrected in order to avoid problems - within the first five to seven days of injury, particularly if manipulation.

Regular follow-up visits should continue for at least a year after a growth plate fracture. Complicated fractures, as well as fractures to the shinbone (tibia) or thighbone (femur) may require follow-up until the child reaches skeletal maturity.

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General

Q. I hear more and more about joint resurfacing these days. Is knee resurfacing a viable alternative to joint replacement surgery?

A. Procedures such as joint resurfacing and partial joint replacement are helping to preserve non damaged parts of the joint when the damaged areas hinder range of motion and day-to-day function. Joint resurfacing is an excellent option for those who do not qualify for total joint replacement, yet suffer from the affects of joint degeneration. It may also buy candidates some time before a total knee arthroplasty is required.

The procedure requires minimum resection and anesthesia. Surgery time is also reduced, decreasing risks associated with surgery. Read more.

Q. Are joint supplements really effective in restoring joint cartilage?

A. There is very little scientific information on the ability, or inability, of cartilage restoring products on the market to actually restore joint cartilage. More long-term studies are required. Some of the products and their contribution to joint function are listed below.

The positive effects of a healthy diet and weight should not be underestimated.

Chondroitin
The more abundant glycosaminoglycan in cartilage, chondroitin is partially responsible for cartilage strength. It is also important in preventing enzymes from destroying cartilage. Chondroitin is commonly taken with glucosamine.

Glucosamine
Glucosamine is an amino acid, which is naturally produced within the body. It is a precursor to a molecule used in the formation and repair of cartilage. Its benefits are based on the thought that oral consumption of the substance may increase the formation of new cartilage by providing the necessary building blocks.

MSM
Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is taken because it is believed to help support ligament health. While glucosamine and chondroitin have not undergone extensive clinical testing, MSM has undergone even less significant testing to support its use. It is theorized that the "sulfer" in MSM helps the body maintain flexible, healthy ligaments.

Combination Supplements
Combinations of both glucosamine and chondroitin, and all three aforementioned supplements, are readily available. These combinations are usually cheaper than the individual medications and certainly easier to take. Use caution when taking these medications, and check with your doctor before starting these drugs.

Q. How do you know if you have an ACL tear?

A. ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injuries are among the most common knee injuries houston orthopedic doctors and sports medicine doctors see. The manner in which the knee was injured is generally a good indicator of the extent of damage to a qualified professional. A thorough physical examination will further help diagnose the injury - as knee instability is a strong indicator of ligament damage and can be assessed with a series of maneuvers that test ligament function.

Among the most common test used to confirm the presence of an ACL tear is the Lachman Test, which assesses extreme forward movement of the tibia. The Shift Maneuver is another common test, which assesses knee joint movement, possibly under anesthesia. Read more.