Dear Colleagues,

Sports injuries in children should not be underestimated as they affect both growing bone and soft tissues; thus, they can result in severe damage to the growth mechanisms and, as such, result in growth disturbances. However, each sport may cause musculoskeletal injuries, and the specific location and pattern of injuries of each sport as well as the leading risk factors causing these injuries should be investigated separately. Based on these investigations, training programmes and performance standards might be elaborated. In this context, the biological maturation of the children should be considered as well, as several studies revealed associations between the biological maturation and the occurrence and severity of overuse and traumatic injuries in young athletes. The risk of sustaining overuse injuries is strongly intensified during the adolescent growth spurt; additionally, late-maturing athletes seem to be at higher risk for sustaining overuse and traumatic injuries. However, these aspects should not only be investigated in youth sport populations, but also in the physical education of pupils.

This Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) focuses on the current state of knowledge on the occurrence of traumatic and overuse injuries in young athletes of different types of sport and injuries occurring in pupils in physical education programmes, as well as the causal mechanisms behind these injuries. Additionally, studies on the association of biological maturation and injuries are very welcome. Studies dealing with injury prevention aspects are also of high interest for this Special Issue. 

Dr. Lisa Steidl-Müller
Dr. Erich Müller
Guest Editors

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• injury prevention
• youth sport
• children
• talent development
• physical education
• biological maturation
• sports injury risk factors