Sports and the Growing Musculoskeletal System: Sports Imaging Series

Increased youth participation in sports has resulted in increased injury tolls due to shifts toward participation in competitive sports at earlier ages, increased training intensity and competition schedules, as well as specialization into one sport. The physiology of the growing musculoskeletal system makes the growing athlete particularly vulnerable to specific types of injuries. Radiologists must understand the differences between pediatric and adult athletes to recognize the particular injuries to which these young athletes are prone. Imaging and pertinent clinical details of major representative acute and overuse injuries characteristic to pediatric athletes will be discussed.