Overuse Injuries in Young Athletes: Upper Body Edition
As highlighted in our previous blog and newsletter piece, Athletics provides a great opportunity for the young athlete to develop both upper and lower body strength, power and endurance in track and field events.
However, we know sometimes our young athletes' bodies are unable to keep up with the demand of training and competing whilst juggling multiple sports during the summer season.
This unfortunately can result in injury… an overuse injury. Upper Body Edition!
Here is an upper body overuse injury to keep an eye out for this athletics season especially for our throwing athletes!
Osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) of the elbow is a condition that can significantly impact the performance and well-being of young track and field athletes. This condition has been covered in this blog HERE.
The repetitive stress and strain placed on the elbow during repetitive throwing events and training can predispose athletes to OCD specifically of the elbow. In this blog, we will unpack the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of OCD in young track and field athletes.
Diagnosis:
Diagnosing OCD of the elbow requires a thorough clinical evaluation. Objectively this may involve swelling over the posterior and lateral side of the elbow, loss of elbow range of motion and the potential of crepitus or cracking/popping. Imaging modalities such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans help confirm the diagnosis and assess the extent of the lesion (Kessler & Bauer, 2012). All modalities are appropriate for diagnosis.
Prognosis:
The prognosis for OCD of the elbow varies depending on the severity of the lesion and the timeliness of intervention. With early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, athletes can expect a favorable outcome. However, untreated OCD can lead to progressive joint pain if not treated appropriately. (Koh et al., 2016).
Treatment:
Treatment for OCD of the elbow should begin with the trial of conservative measures. Conservative treatment will involve the combination of load management/relative rest/activity modification alongside physiotherapy and analgesia such as NSAIDs.
Physiotherapy aims to reduce pain and inflammation while improving joint stability and function through targeted exercises aiming to regain strength and range of motion of the elbow. (Brophy & Rodeo, 2015). Additionally, bracing or splinting may be used to immobilise the elbow to facilitate healing in more irritable cases.
In cases where conservative measures fail to provide relief or if the lesion is severe, surgical intervention may be necessary. Surgical options range from arthroscopic debridement and microfracture to osteochondral autograft transplantation, depending on the size and location of the lesion (Mithöfer et al., 2005).
Ultimately, early recognition and intervention are crucial in managing overuse injuries of the upper limb such as OCD in young track and field athletes.
A multidisciplinary approach involving your GP, Physiotherapist, and orthopedic specialist is essential to optimise outcomes and facilitate a safe return to sport.
Do you have any questions about OCD or overuse upper body injuries?
Do you or your child/young athlete have an injury?
We have Sports & Exercise Physiotherapists ready to help 👋
Call ☎️ 9873 2770
Book online 👩💻👨💻: https://bookings.nookal.com/bookings/location/39XKS
References:
Kessler JI, Bauer RM. Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev. 2012;20(2):126-132.
Koh JL, Schafer MF, Keuter G, Hsu JE. Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow. Clin Sports Med. 2016;35(3):465-487.
Brophy RH, Rodeo SA. Osteochondritis dissecans of the capitellum. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(9):e269-e279.
Mithöfer K, Peterson L, Mandelbaum BR, Minas T. Articular cartilage repair in soccer players with autologous chondrocyte transplantation: functional outcome and return to competition. Am J Sports Med. 2005;33(11):1639-1646.