Why Are Kids’ Sports Injuries on the Rise?

Jason from Pottsville Chiropractic is seeing more young athletes with growth-related injuries than ever before — particularly conditions like Sever’s disease (heel pain) and Osgood-Schlatter disease (knee pain).

SO WHAT’S GOING ON?

WHY INJURIES ARE INCREASING

Early sports specialisation

Many kids are focusing on just one sport from a young age and playing all year round. Repeating the same movements — running, jumping, kicking — places stress on growing bodies. As children’s bones have not yet finished growing, they have growth plates throughout the body and often in vulnerable areas. These can be prone to inflammation.

More training, less recovery

Kids are often training or playing several times throughout the week and weekends. During growth spurts there is additional load placed on the bones, muscles and tendons. This increases the strain even further on areas such as the heels and knees.

Less general movement

While some kids are overtraining, others aren’t building basic strength and coordination through free play. More screen time and less outdoor play can mean children start organised sport without the strength foundations their bodies need.

Recovery matters

Sleep, nutrition and rest days are essential for growing bodies. Without enough recovery, small stresses build up into bigger injuries.

What are these conditions?

Sever’s disease usually affects children aged 8–14 and causes heel pain, especially in running and jumping sports.

Osgood-Schlatter disease typically appears between 10–15 years and causes pain just below the knee.

Both conditions involve growth plate irritation caused by too much accumulated load on young growing bodies, without adequate rest and recovery.

How can we help prevent them?

Jason suggests:

Encouraging kids to play a variety of sports

Supporting strength and movement training

Monitor closely during obvious growth spurts

Limiting weekly sport hours to no more than their age

Scheduling proper rest days

Taking heel or knee pain seriously early on

Sport is incredibly important for kids’ health and confidence — but balance is key. With the right support, children can stay active, strong and pain-free as they grow.

Dr Jason Naumann is the principal Chiropractor at Pottsville Chiropractic, specialising in sports, athletic performance, and injury rehabilitation.