DON’T OVERDO IT: RECOGNIZING, TREATING, AND PREVENTING OVERUSE SPORTS INJURIES

Participating in sports has been shown to positively impact an athlete’s physical, mental, and social health. However, there can be too much of a good thing and athletes can put themselves at risk for an overuse injury unless they take proper precautions. Take a few moments to learn how to spot an overuse injury, how overuse injuries happen, and how to treat overuse injuries and prevent reoccurrence or new injuries. 

Signs of Overuse Injuries: 

  • Pain, specifically sharp, stabbing pain, during sports-related movements and everyday activities like using the stairs 
  • The appearance of blisters or skin irritations 
  • The onset of headaches, shortness of breath, dizziness, or lightheadedness during activity 

Factors that May Contribute to Overuse Injuries  

  • A recent change in activity 
  • An increase in activity 
  • Playing multiple sports at the same time 
  • Overtraining 
  • Age; overuse injuries are most prevalent during the growth spurt that takes place between the ages of 9-14

Common Treatment Techniques for Overuse Injuries: 

  • Rest; Complete rest or active rest, depending on the type and severity of the injury
  • Icing 
  • Activity modification 
  • Stretching/incorporating a flexibility program into training sessions
  • Physical therapy
  • Anti-inflammatory medications (if recommended by a physician) 

Prevention of overuse injuries  

  • Schedule a pre-season physical to identify risk factors 
  • Perform a dynamic warm-up and static cool-down during all training sessions  
  • Integrate cross-training so the athlete incorporates exercises that focus on both strength and flexibility  
  • Hydrate before, during, and after activity  
  • Avoid playing just one sport year-round, as sport specialization can increase the likelihood of overuse injuries 
  • Allow a period of complete rest between each sports season

Sources and Additional Resources from STOP (Sports Trauma and Overuse Prevention) Sports Injuries: 

Preventing Overuse Injuries

Injury Prevention Resources

Click here to learn more about our Sports Medicine specialty and for a list of our Sports Medicine physicians. If you have questions or want to learn more ways to stay healthy, active and strong, consider connecting with one of our Certified Athletic Trainers through our Sports Medicine Hotline.