An overuse injury is damage to a bone, muscle, ligament, or tendon due to repetitive stress without allowing time for the body to heal.

Overuse injuries usually occur over time and can come on subtly. They are the result of repetitive micro-trauma to the tendons, bones and joints.

Each year, thousands of young athletes in the United States are diagnosed with overuse injuries; they constitute about half of youth sports injuries. This is happening more and more as young athletes are drawn — and often pushed — into sports specialization.

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I’ve seen enough studies to know there’s a direct link between sports specialization and overuse injuries. On top of that, the arguments against specialization also point out that it’s not mandatory for athletes who want to become elite athletes.

Specializing doesn’t really help preadolescents become elite, and it can harm them physically and emotionally.

Common examples of overuse injuries include:

• tennis elbow
• swimmer’s shoulder
• rotator cuff tendinitis
• little league elbow
• runner’s knee
• jumper’s knee
• Achilles tendinitis
• shin splints

The key is to know ahead of time that overuse injuries are very real problems and you can help prevent them. If you wait until the overuse injury becomes a problem, you’ve waited too long.

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Prevention

There are many voices today who are advocating change in amateur sports and while that continues, parents and coaches can take it upon themselves to follow some simple preventive methods and treatments. Here are five simple suggestions by Dr. Carolyn Kienstra, pediatric sports medicine expert at UHealth Sports Medicine Institute:

1. Have young athletes take at least one to two days off per week to allow time for recovery.

2. Add increases in training slowly — no more than 10 percent per week, whether practice hours, distance covered or intensity.

3. If a child or teen is returning to fall sports after summer vacation, encourage training or conditioning on their own a few weeks in advance.

4. Rotate sports: Young athletes should take two to three months away from a specific sport throughout the year. The change helps them to develop broader strengths and skills. Studies also show it can make them even better at their main sport.

5. Most importantly, have fun! The focus in youth sports should be on enjoyment, developing skills, participating safely and learning good sportsmanship and teamwork. These valuable lessons will last long beyond the sports season.

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Overuse injuries can sneak up on you. As parents, take a look at the bigger picture of your children’s youth sports experience and be sure they are not only enjoying the experience — which will keep them playing longer — but are taking proper care of their bodies so they can enjoy a safer experience.

Janis B. Meredith is a life coach for parents. She provides resources to help parents raise champions. Learn more about how she can help parents Raise Champions.