From the Sidelines to the Field: A Parent’s Guide to Preventing Spring Sports Injuries

An estimated 55% of children and adolescents ages 6-17 participate in sports, with more than 3.5 million of them sustaining an injury each year. This makes minimizing injury risk a top priority for parents, coaches, and sports medicine providers alike. 

Spring marks the return of packed schedules filled with practices, games, and tournaments. For kids and teens, it often means jumping back into activity after a less active winter. That sudden increase in activity is one of the biggest reasons spring sports injuries happen.

At Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center, our sports medicine providers treat athletes of all ages and help families respond quickly when injuries occur.

Why spring sports injuries are so common

Children’s open growth plates make them vulnerable to injury. In addition to training their bodies to kick, run, jump, and throw, young athletes are also growing rapidly. 

Bones, muscles, and tendons don’t always adapt at the same pace. When they participate in repetitive motions from activities such as baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and track, the risk of sports-related injuries increases. Injuries to the wrist, shoulder, elbow, and ankle are most common in children who participate in sports.

Most common types of pediatric sports injuries include:

• Sprains
• Strains
• Fractures
• Dislocations
• Ligament injuries
• Growth plate injuries

Many start as mild pain that worsens when athletes push through instead of slowing down.

Proper conditioning matters 

Gradual conditioning before the season ramps up is one of the most effective ways to prevent injuries. You want your child building strength, flexibility, and endurance weeks before competition begins, not during the first few games.

Encourage proper warm-ups, cool-downs, and sport-specific strength training. Rest days are just as important. Playing through fatigue increases the risk of poor form and technique, placing extra stress on joints and soft tissues.

Pay attention to early warning signs

Kids don’t always speak up when something hurts, especially if they’re worried about losing playing time. Persistent soreness, swelling, limping, reduced range of motion, or pain that changes how they move are signals to take seriously.

Bring your child in to have pain that lasts more than a few days or worsens with activity evaluated. Early care can prevent minor injuries from becoming chronic problems.

Proper gear and technique reduce risk

Ill-fitting shoes, worn cleats, or missing protective gear increase the risk of injury. Make sure the equipment fits your child’s current size, especially during growth spurts.

Overuse injuries can happen with improper form, such as pitching mechanics, running stride, or jumping technique. Coaches play a key role, but parents should feel comfortable asking questions if something looks off.

Act quickly when an injury happens

Despite best efforts, injuries still happen. Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center offers a Fast Track Clinic for recent injuries like sprains, fractures, and joint or muscle injuries. 

This gives you access to same-day orthopedic care without the long waits and costs of the emergency room. X-rays and evaluations are handled on-site, and if needed, our Fast Track Clinic team can arrange a referral to one of our orthopedic physicians.

The Fast Track Clinic is ideal when an injury occurred within the past few days and involves bones, joints, or muscles. For severe bleeding or emergencies, the ER is still the right choice.

Support that goes beyond diagnosis

A nationwide public health objective set by the federal government is to increase sports participation among young people to 63% by 2030. The Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center plans to continue doing our part in preventing and treating injuries to keep child athletes healthy and fit.

If an injury occurs or something doesn’t feel right, timely orthopedic care makes all the difference. Rely on Nevada Orthopedic & Spine Center for your child’s orthopedic needs this spring and beyond. Contact us or book an appointment online today.