The vast majority of overuse injuries are easily recognizable by the associated pain and/or a decrease in ability and loss of function. It is so incredibly important to note that pain should not be ignored because, even if the pain isn’t affecting performance in the present, ignoring it will NOT make it go away. In fact, ignoring the pain of an injury can lead to much greater damage being sustained in the future. Overuse injuries have four classifications of severity, which are as follows:

Stage 1 – Pain occurring after activity with no functional impairment.

Stage 2 – Pain during and after activity with minimal functional impairment.

Stage 3 – Pain during and after activity that persists throughout the day with significant functional impairment.

Stage 4 – Significant functional impairment with all daily activities.

If an athlete, coach, or parent suspects an injury has occurred, it is vital to have the condition evaluated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Once diagnosed, it’s equally as vital to follow the recommendations set forth by your doctor, physical therapist, and trainer in regards to treatment and recovery. Aside from repeating it over and over, there is no way to adequately stress the incredible importance of listening to our bodies and NOT playing through pain!!!

Another very important point to remember is that a child’s body cannot endure the kind of stress that an adult body can stand up to. In fact, stressing a premature bone, tendon, and/or ligament will often lead to both short-term AND long-term injuries, which can not only affect a child’s ability to compete later in life but can also have significant negative impacts on their growth and development.

If an overuse injury is suspected, please don’t hesitate to give Prairie Orthopaedics and Plastic Surgery a call. Dr. Hurlbut, Dr. Krejci, and Dr. Machado – along with their staff of nurses and physical therapy team – are well-versed in the diagnosis and treatment of such injuries and have an incredibly high success rate of in regards to rehabilitation which allows our patients get back on track …pain free and stronger than ever!