What your kids won't tell you

As a physical therapist I frequently see an influx of high school athletes at the beginning of each season. This is usually not due to any injury on the field but rather a flare up of an injury from the previous season.

The main problem is once a sports season ends the athlete typically has a month or two off before the next one begins. During this time of relative inactivity whatever was bothering the athlete tends to subside and gets placed in the back of the mind of both parents and athletes. Don't let this happen. The end of the season is when any chronic injury needs to be addressed. These conditions are usually treated with relatively simple flexibility and strengthening activities. Knee problems such as Osgood-Schlatter or Sinding-Larsen Johannsen are a great example of this situation as is non-specific shoulder pain in baseball pitchers. I implore you, even if they stop complaining about it, take them to a specialist so they don't miss playing time during the next season, nothing is sadder than a sidelined senior.

Another problem is the athlete who doesn't complain about pain or just "works through it". This is quite noble but is likely to end up in a more significant problem. An example could be a strained achilles tendon that eventually snaps requiring surgery or perhaps an ankle sprain that causes a more serious ACL injury due to abnormal movement patterns. Parents must be aware of everything their athlete does. Look at how they are walking after practice, limping a little may be a clue. Using tylenol or advil without complaining about a headache, may be a clue. I am just as guilty of this as anyone as my oldest son can attest.

If you have any doubt about the proper course of action to take, a high school athletic trainer is usually a good first step or a physical therapist such as myself. Be proactive, a short stint of rehabilitation can frequently educate you in what to do without severely impacting a season in progress and may prevent missing any time from a future sports season.