Musculoskeletal injuries in the pediatric and adolescent athlete.

There are approximately 35 million children participating in organized sports in the United States. With this increasing participation, we have seen an overall increase in sports-related injuries in young athletes over the past 20 years. Young athletes suffer both acute and chronic, or overuse, injuries. They are susceptible to many of the same injuries as their adult counterparts, but due to the effects of growth on the musculoskeletal system, they are at risk for injuries to the growth plate, apophysis, and joint surface. Common acute and overuse injuries seen in young athletes are discussed here.