Susannah Briskin, MD, a Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, says, “Most parents are really good at identifying an acute injury such as a broken bone in their child because of the quick onset of symptoms including swelling, bruising and excessive pain.” She says acute injury “red flags” may also include:
•Inability to walk or use a limb.
•Obvious deformity to a bone.
•Numbness or tingling.
•Problems with circulation to the injured area.
•Excessive pain that cannot be controlled at home.
However, Dr. Briskin cautions that it is more difficult to spot an overuse injury.
“An overuse injury typically involves slow onset pain over time in any part of the body that is subject to repetitive motion. If rest, ice and backing off the specific sport doesn’t help, or if pain returns after the child resumes the activity, then it’s time to get the injury checked.”
Common overuse injuries in kids include shoulder pain associated with throwing, knee pain brought on by weight-bearing activities like running and jumping, shin splints and chronic ankle and/or low back pain.
“Even though discomfort may be less severe than that associated with an acute injury, any pain with an activity and/or after a workout may indicate an overuse injury,” says Dr. Briskin. “Decreased ability to perform may also signify a problem.”
Persistent pain leads to dysfunction and keeps athletes out of competition. For example, overuse impairment can impact the accuracy or velocity of a throw or a kick.
“The longer injuries linger, the harder they are to resolve,” says
Dr. Briskin. “We would rather see children sooner than later. Early identification of an injury allows us to initiate treatment more quickly. Often times, this means a faster resolution of symptoms and an earlier return to sports.”
Damage often occurs after an abrupt change in exercise patterns involving increased frequency, duration and/or intensity. Kids are probably at greater risk for overuse injuries when they transition into a high school or college sport, or begin training for a new sport. Children who have been inactive through the winter months and head into spring sports conditioning are very susceptible to overuse injuries because their bodies are simply not prepared.
“Rainbow Sports Medicine specializes in assessing injuries in growing children, but we treat athletes of all ages,” says Dr. Briskin. “We are aggressive about keeping kids involved in their sports whenever possible. There is a balance or an ‘art’ to managing an injury and, at the same time, determining a safe level of continued participation.”
In addition to musculoskeletal issues, Dr. Briskin counsels patients on nutrition and injury prevention and evaluates athletes with concussions, exercise-associated loss of menstrual cycles, trouble breathing associated with sports and exercise-associated fatigue. She also performs pre-participation sports exams.
Dr. Briskin and Dr. Amanda Weiss Kelly, Rainbow Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialists, are available to see patients at: University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, or at the suburban UH Outpatient Health Centers at Chagrin Highlands, Landerbrook (Lyndhurst), Mentor, Strongsville, Twinsburg and Westlake. Please call (216) 844-3595 for an appointment or visit www.uhhospitals.org to request an appointment.
Acute Injury Home Care:
Susannah Briskin, MD, a Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital expands the general steps for acute injury home care from the traditional “R-I-C-E” method to the “P-R-I-C-E” method.
•P – Protect the injury and remove additional risk by using crutches, splints or other devices.
•R – Rest the injury.
•I – Ice for 20 minutes, and then remove the ice for the next 20 minutes. Make sure the child’s skin goes back to its normal temperature before ice is reapplied.
•C – Compress with ACE wraps or braces to help control swelling.
•E – Elevate the injured extremity by raising it above the level of the head; support the extremity with pillows underneath.
