Overuse injuries are common in sports, perhaps no more so than in track & field. In addition to shin splints, which is the number one overuse injury in track, some of the most common injuries are:
Overuse is the cause of most chronic, nagging injuries. Track & Field lends itself to these problems because of the repetitive motion in most events. There are several primary causes of overuse problems:
According to Laura Ann Christopher, MS, ATC, an athletic trainer for the University of Maryland track team, these types of injuries usually respond to the following types of treatment:
All of these treatments can be done by the athlete. An athletic trainer or physical therapist may also use some of the following to promote healing:
These machines should only be used in athletic training rooms and physical therapy lclinics by trained professionals. The improper usage of units marketed for home use can be harmful.
Overuse injuries usually occur due to a biomechanical imbalance in the way the person runs, causing excess stress to one area of the body. Remove the imbalance and strengthen the weakness and injuries will be less likely to occur.
According to Christopher, the three most important things an athlete can do to prevent inflammation and overuse injuries are:
Don't over train. More volume is not always better training or good for your child's body. Ideally, each athlete will find the training volume that is the most effective for her but allows her to maintain her health. Any increase in volume should be done gradually. For example, increase training volume by 5% and then take several weeks to adjust before adding more.
Don't change training techniques abruptly. In general, training on softer surfaces will produce less wear and tear on a young athlete's joints and bones. This is good for both the short term and long term health. If he loves to run and want to still be doing it later in life, he needs to do what he can to preserve his joints when he is young. Some athletes can go back and forth between grass, trails, roads and tracks with no problems. But if your child can't, he needs to keep that in mind when planning his training.
Wear appropriate footwear. Different shoes are made for different kinds of feet and varying foot placements. Before beginning, or if she is having any foot or leg pain, visit a running store to have her feet evaluated and get recommendations for running shoes that will give her the best fit and support.
Links:
[1] https://www.momsteam.com/stress-fractures/stress-fractures-in-high-school-athletes-growing-problem
[2] https://www.momsteam.com/sports/track-field/safety/shin-splints-treatment-and-prevention
[3] https://www.momsteam.com/sports/track-field/hip-strength-stamina-important-long-distance-runners