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Musculoskeletal Injuries in Adolescents: A Sports Medicine Model

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Handbook of Adolescent Health Psychology

Abstract

Musculoskeletal injuries are by far the most common type of injury for adolescent athletes. Awareness of common diagnosis and conservative intervention is important for all clinicians who care for pediatric and adolescent population. Children have different injury patterns compared to adults. A high index of suspicion of physeal injuries must always be maintained. Musculoskeletal injuries can not only cause physical compromise but may also lead to psychological stress and challenges secondary to pressure from coaches and families to return to play. This chapter outlines musculoskeletal injuries in adolescents using a sports medicine model. Indeed, upon completion of this chapter the reader should have a greater understanding of common musculoskeletal injuries in the skeletally immature, improved knowledge of when to treat conservatively and when to refer, and finally have an improved ability to recognize the psychological stresses young adolescents may endure when suffering a musculoskeletal injury.

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Acknowledgment

Special acknowledgement to Neel Pancholi for his contributions to this chapter.

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Gupta, A., Paik, R., Balague, G., Coumbe-Lilley, J., Hutchinson, M.R. (2013). Musculoskeletal Injuries in Adolescents: A Sports Medicine Model. In: O'Donohue, W., Benuto, L., Woodward Tolle, L. (eds) Handbook of Adolescent Health Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6633-8_42

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