The Most Common Sources Of Shoulder Injuries In Children And Teens

Shoulder pain and injuries tend to be more common in older adults who have put decades of stress on the joint, but adults aren’t the only population affected by shoulder issues. In fact, many orthopedic clinics have noticed an uptick in shoulder injuries among children and teens. What’s driving this uptick in shoulder injuries, and what can we do as parents to protect the shoulder health of our children? Below, we explore some of the most common sources of youth shoulder injuries and how we can prevent these factors from causing problems for your child’s shoulders.

Common Reasons For Youth Shoulder Injuries

Let’s explore some of the most common reasons why children and teens develop pain in their shoulders.

Overuse - One of the most common reasons for the uptick in youth shoulder injuries, especially among young athletes, is overuse. Youth sports have become even more hyper competitive in recent years, and it’s leading many children and parents to push for single sport specialization at an earlier age. More kids are playing the same sport year-round, stressing their shoulders at alarming rates. Competitive swimmers, golfers and baseball players are at a heightened risk for shoulder injuries, especially if they don’t take some time off between seasons. The new youth sports landscape is proving detrimental to the health of our young athletes, and it’s up to parents and coaches to take the lead when it comes to protecting the health of their children and athletes.

Acute Injuries - Of course, acute shoulder injuries are also a common source of injury among teens and children, and there’s not always a lot that can be done to prevent these. A fall on the ski hill, slipping off a tree branch or getting tackled awkwardly in a youth football game can all lead to shoulder injuries. In these situations, there’s not much more you can do than ensure your child wears the right protective gear or equipment for the activities they’ll be participating in, and that they proactively treat any new shoulder issues they develop so that symptoms don’t linger or worsen.

Posture-Related Shoulder Injuries - Poor posture tends to have more of an effect on a person’s neck or back, but it can absolutely impact the health of your shoulders as well. If children are regularly slouched on the couch, hunched at a computer desk or craning forward to look at their phones in their lap, it can have a big impact on their spine and shoulders during an important period of growth. Talk to your child about the importance of good posture and strive to help them make adjustments when you notice they are putting excessive strain on their neck and shoulders.

We use our shoulders and arms every single day to perform countless tasks, so we can’t let an injury during our youth progress into a major problem in adulthood. We need to be aware of some of the common causes of youth shoulder injuries and take steps to prevent and treat these issues so that our kids develop strong and functional shoulders.

To take your knowledge of shoulder injuries and effective treatment options one step further, consider checking out Dr. Reznik’s latest publication, The Knee And Shoulder Handbook. This book dives deeper into pediatric shoulder injuries, prevention strategies and effective treatment methods and is a handy reference guide for any parent. To learn more about the publication, or to get in contact with Dr. Reznik about a specific health matter, head on over to the contact page for more information.