Musculoskeletal injuries and pain in children involved in sports: A literature review

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In children, sports aims to obtain positive emotions and improve health and personal development. Sports injuries are associated with various risk factors, such as sex, age, previous injuries, and early specialization.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze published data on the epidemiology, etiology, pathogenesis, and diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and associated pain in children engaged in sports.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The literature regarding the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of pain in children involved in sports was explored. The literature search garnered 64 publications, including original articles, reviews, and normative documents.

RESULTS: For most athletes, pain commonly occurs during training and competition. Injuries are an inherent risk when playing sports. However, coaches and parents can minimize the risk of injury by ensuring that they choose the right sports activities, use appropriate equipment, follow the rules, use safe practice, and provide adequate supervision. The negative consequences of sports injuries must be balanced with the social, psychological, and health benefits of sports participation.

CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of injuries and analgesia must be implemented effectively to prevent pain from becoming chronic and reduce psychological burden on the young athletes.

About the authors

Vladimir M. Kenis

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery; North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Author for correspondence.
Email: kenis@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-7651-8485
SPIN-code: 5597-8832

MD, PhD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Alexey G. Baindurashvili

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery; North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov

Email: turner011@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8123-6944
SPIN-code: 2153-9050

MD, PhD, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Member of RAS, Honored Doctor of the Russian Federation

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg; Saint Petersburg

Andrey V. Sapogovskiy

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: sapogovskiy@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5762-4477
SPIN-code: 2068-2102

MD, PhD, Cand. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Evgenii V. Melchenko

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: emelchenko@gmail.com
ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1139-5573
SPIN-code: 1552-8550

MD, PhD, Cand. Sci. (Med.)

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Aleksandr N. Kasev

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: an.kasev@aodkb29.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0006-0802-4949

MD, PhD student

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

Pavel S. Shpulev

H. Turner National Medical Research Center for Сhildren’s Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery

Email: pavel_shpulev@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0009-0004-1327-6759

MD, PhD student

Russian Federation, Saint Petersburg

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