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IJERPH
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Sports-Related Injuries in Children and Adolescents
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Sports-Related Injuries in Children and Adolescents

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 12473

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Dilipkumar R. Patel

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI 49008, USA
Interests: pediatric sports medicine; neurodevelopmental pediatrics; adolescent; pediatric; cerebral palsy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Participation in sports is an integral aspect of the life of every child and adolescent, who engage in sports for a variety of reasons that range from fun to intensive competition. Research and practice in the field of pediatric sports medicine have revealed that, compared with adults, the implications of sports participation and physical activity are vastly different and often physiologically, psychologically, developmentally and socially unique for children and adolescents. An understanding of the dynamic interplay among physical, cognitive, and psychological growth and development and sport participation is essential to the clinical practice of pediatric sports medicine.

In this Special Issue of IJERPH, we invite you to consider sport-related injuries in children and adolescents from a broad perspective; these include such considerations as the unique aspects of growth and development related to musculoskeletal injuries, epidemiology, predisposing and risk factors for injuries, the role of training and conditioning, the role of genetics, and the developmental and psychological aspects of sport-related injuries. We invite you to share your research and perspectives regarding clinical practice for sport-related injuries in children and adolescents.

We would like you to especially consider a broad range of extrinsic or environmental aspects relevant to sports-related injuries, as well as public health considerations and the implications of such injuries.

Prof. Dr. Dilipkumar R. Patel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • musculoskeletal injuries
  • concussions
  • chest and abdominal trauma
  • genitourinary trauma
  • maxillofacial and dental trauma
  • neck injuries
  • eyes, ears and nasal injuries
  • specific considerations for the physically and cognitively challenged athletes

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Review

11 pages, 542 KB  
Review
Spondylolysis: A Narrative Review of Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management
by Vanessa Madden, Adam Ayoub, Jonathan Thomas and Ian Thomas
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020153 - 26 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1701
Abstract
Background: Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, most common in adolescents and athletes involved in sports requiring repetitive spinal loading, extension, and rotation. The condition is often underdiagnosed due to delays in presentation and diagnosis, particularly among non-orthopedic providers. Aims: [...] Read more.
Background: Spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the pars interarticularis, most common in adolescents and athletes involved in sports requiring repetitive spinal loading, extension, and rotation. The condition is often underdiagnosed due to delays in presentation and diagnosis, particularly among non-orthopedic providers. Aims: This review aims to summarize the current understanding of spondylolysis, focusing on its etiology, diagnosis, management strategies, and identify gaps in research for future exploration. Methods: A structured literature search was conducted in PubMed to identify studies relevant to pediatric and adolescent spondylolysis, spondylosis, and spondylolisthesis, particularly in the context of athletic injuries. The initial search yielded 143 citations. Applying filters for English language publications within the past five years reduced this to 125 citations. Limiting to populations that were aged 18 years and under returned 50 studies. After screening the titles and abstracts, 12 non-specific or irrelevant articles (including letters to the editor) were excluded, leaving a final dataset of 38 articles for detailed review. In addition, foundational and landmark studies outside this window were included to provide historical and conceptual context, bringing the total evidence base to 50 papers. Findings: Spondylolysis most commonly affects the L5 vertebra, with a higher incidence in male athletes. Conservative treatments like physical therapy and bracing are effective, especially when initiated early. However, the efficacy of bracing remains debated, with limited evidence on long-term clinical benefits. Surgical intervention is considered for severe or non-responsive cases. Diagnostic methods, including CT and MRI, are preferred, with emerging techniques like ultrasound showing potential for non-ionizing, cost-effective, early detection. Implications: Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial for preventing progression to spondylolisthesis. While conservative treatments often yield favorable outcomes, more research is needed to compare the effectiveness of bracing and pharmacological interventions. Future studies should focus on long-term outcomes, cost-effective, non-ionizing diagnostic methods, and the role of emerging therapies like regenerative medicine. A multi-disciplinary approach is vital for optimal patient care, particularly in young athletes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Related Injuries in Children and Adolescents)
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13 pages, 349 KB  
Review
The Psychology of Sports Injuries in Children and Adolescents: Psychosocial, Developmental, and Recovery Aspects to Injury
by Linh-Nhu Hoang, Pradnya Joshi, Dilip R. Patel and Roger W. Apple
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(10), 1509; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22101509 - 30 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4508
Abstract
Participation in sports and the presence of sports injuries have a lasting impact on youth athletes’ physical, cognitive, and emotional development and sense of self-identity. There is an ongoing growth in participation in sports for youth, as well as growing literature on the [...] Read more.
Participation in sports and the presence of sports injuries have a lasting impact on youth athletes’ physical, cognitive, and emotional development and sense of self-identity. There is an ongoing growth in participation in sports for youth, as well as growing literature on the epidemiology and outcomes of sports-related injuries. However, there is a paucity of published research regarding the psychological aspects of sports injury, including psychosocial factors, stressors, and responses, from the perspective of young athletes. Key risk factors include the youth’s sex, the types of sports activity, and any previous injuries. Psychosocial models, such as the stress-injury model, help explore such risk factors and their relationship to outcomes of stress. Implications for sports injury outcomes vary within the pediatric population, and the recovery and rehabilitation process requires integrated healthcare to optimize health and mental health outcomes. This review aims to describe the psychosocial factors related to sports injuries in children and adolescents, provide an understanding of sports injury models for youth athletes, and point to recovery and prevention through integrated behavioral health interventions. Based on a literature search, we identified 40 articles most relevant to our aims to explore psychosocial factors and stressors, predisposing and risk factors, and developmental aspects of sports injuries in children and adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Related Injuries in Children and Adolescents)
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13 pages, 443 KB  
Review
Adolescent Soccer Overuse Injuries: A Review of Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Management
by Adam Ayoub, Maxwell Ranger, Melody Longmire and Karen Bovid
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(9), 1388; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091388 - 5 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4978
Abstract
Introduction: Overuse injuries are a growing concern among adolescent soccer players, with the repetitive nature of the sport placing significant physical demands on young athletes. These injuries can have long-term implications for physical development, performance, and overall well-being. This narrative synthesis aimed to [...] Read more.
Introduction: Overuse injuries are a growing concern among adolescent soccer players, with the repetitive nature of the sport placing significant physical demands on young athletes. These injuries can have long-term implications for physical development, performance, and overall well-being. This narrative synthesis aimed to evaluate the existing literature on the epidemiology, risk factors, and management strategies for overuse injuries in adolescent soccer players. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed and Embase. A total of 123 articles were identified, 27 of which met the inclusion criteria after screening. Studies focusing on overuse injuries in adolescent soccer players aged 10–18 years were included, while those addressing acute injuries, non-soccer populations, or adult athletes were excluded. Relevant quantitative and qualitative data were extracted and evaluated. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and outcomes, findings were narratively synthesized rather than meta-analyzed. Results: The period around peak height velocity (PHV: 11.5 years in girls, 13.5 years in boys) was consistently identified as a high-risk window, with seven studies demonstrating a significantly increased incidence of overuse injuries. Additional risk factors included leg length asymmetry, truncal weakness, early sport specialization, high ratios of organized-to-free play, and increased body size. Injury burden was greatest for hamstring and groin injuries, often leading to prolonged time lost from play. Preventive interventions such as plyometric training, trunk stabilization, and structured load monitoring demonstrated reductions in injury incidence in several prospective studies, though protocols varied widely. Conclusion: This narrative synthesis highlights PHV as the most consistent risk factor for overuse injuries in adolescent soccer players, alongside modifiable contributors such as training load, sport specialization, and free play balance. Evidence supports neuromuscular training and structured monitoring as promising preventive strategies, but there remains a lack of standardized, evidence-based protocols. Future research should focus on optimizing and validating interventions, integrating growth and load monitoring, and leveraging emerging approaches such as machine learning-based risk prediction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports-Related Injuries in Children and Adolescents)
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