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Teenage athletes are injured at approximately the same rate as professional athletes, but because they are often still growing, it is extremely important seek proper treatment immediately. A child’s bones grow at a different rate of speed from that of muscles and tendons. This uneven growth pattern makes younger athletes more susceptible to muscle and tendon injuries, and growth plate fractures.

Although the benefits of athletic activity are significant, young athletes are at greater risk for injury than adults because they are still growing. Some children play on multiple team sat the same time while others participate in one sport, all year long. Repetitive use of the same muscle groups places unchanging stress to specific areas of the body, leading to muscle imbalances that, when combined with overtraining and inadequate rest periods, can put children at serious risk for overuse injuries.