The Adolescent Athlete: A Musculoskeletal Update

Abstract

Adolescent athletes are participating in new and popular sports. What are today's musculoskeletal concerns for these athletes? The purpose of this paper is to provide an update on what is currently known about the young athlete and how contributing factors of injury have changed accordingly. Preventative measures are included. A review of recent literature and discussions of the relevant anatomical concerns (musculoskeletal), issues and trends in sport, and sport medicine philosophies are provided. The summary suggests that because adolescent athletes are being exposed to new sports in different ways, critical questions concerning the effects of sports are essential to insure a safer athletic environment.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1983;5(1):20-25.