Skip to main content

High School Girls at Higher Risk for Overuse Injuries Than Boys

By U.S. News & World Report

The pressure on high school athletes today is intense. Many of these teenagers face increased competition to earn a spot on the team and try to live up to the expectations of their parents and coaches.

This demand is so grueling that some organizations have started to restrict activity. For example, this past season the California Interscholastic Federation adopted new bylaws that limit practice and contact time for high school athletes to 18 hours per week. That is still equivalent to three hours a day, six days a week — a great deal of time to spend doing any one activity. This level of practice and competition time can be found in high schools throughout the nation and takes a heavy toll on some athletes.

Overuse Injuries in Teenagers are on the Rise

We used to think of overuse injuries — stress fractures, shin splints, tendonitis or persistent joint and muscle pain — as problems of older, highly skilled athletes. Imagine the number of times a professional baseball player throws a ball each year, or a professional soccer player runs up and down a field each day.

While we still see many overuse injuries in professional athletes, I’m starting to see more and more teenagers with similar injuries in my practice at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, and I’m not alone. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, overuse injuries in children are on the rise, and a recent study I led shows that girls specifically are at a much higher risk.

Gender Inequality

To better understand the prevalence and nature of overuse injuries, my colleagues and I analyzed national data between 2006 to 2012, charting nearly 3,000 cases of overuse injuries in 20 high school sports. We calculated the rate of overuse injuries, the pattern of those injuries and compared them by gender and sport. What we found was surprising.

The Top High School Sports for Overuse Injuries

Our study found that the top three sports for overuse injuries were girls’ sports. Girls’ track and field had the most overuse injuries, followed by girls’ field hockey and girls’ lacrosse. Boys were most likely to suffer overuse injuries in high school swimming and diving, the fourth-ranked sport on our list.

The area of the body most affected by overuse injuries varied by sport, but the most common sites included the lower leg (21.8 percent), the knee (15.9 percent) and the shoulder (11.5 percent).

Females sustained more overuse injuries earlier in their high school careers, while boys suffered more during their later years.

The Search for Solutions

There are many theories as to why teenagers are becoming more susceptible to overuse injuries. During the high school years these athletes go through puberty, a crucial time for both sexes in terms of bone development, muscle strength and joint laxity. Taxing the body during this time, particularly with repetitive motions, could make them more vulnerable to injury. In girls, we’re also looking into the role menstruation and nutrition play in both physical development and injury risk. Regardless of the cause of these injuries, we know there are things we can do to help prevent them.

Building Strength Through Diversity

Coaches, athletic trainers and parents need to stress the benefits of rest, recovery and proper nutrition to young athletes. Teenagers could also benefit from playing several sports instead of specializing in just one. By switching sports every few months, young athletes use and develop different muscle groups, which can not only help develop core strength, but can lessen the risk of overuse injuries from repetitive motion.

The more we learn about overuse injuries, the more imperative it is to teach young athletes how to avoid them. Trying to do too much, too often, can be counterproductive and may ultimately cause injuries that keep our teenagers away from the sports they love.

More from U.S. News

9 Empowering Women’s Races You Should Enter

8 Reasons Running Now Will Help You Later in Life

How to Know if You’re Exercising Too Much

High School Girls at Higher Risk for Overuse Injuries Than Boys originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote