From an interview with
Dr. Art Jordan, Sports Medicine Physician
McLeod Orthopaedics
The coronavirus pandemic has presented challenges to nearly everyone in many different ways. Young athletes are not an exception.
“It has definitely been interesting with stopping and starting training throughout the year,” says McLeod Sports Medicine Specialist Dr. Art Jordan. “I think some of the biggest things we have seen this year are athletes not necessarily training throughout that period and then, trying to jump straight back into sports. Whenever athletes have not been training before jumping back into regular action, they are more likely to have an injury. We have seen lots of knee injuries. That is very common, whether it be ACL tears or meniscus tears, especially if we had not been working with them on leg strength prior to returning to the sport.”
As spring approaches with baseball and softball, Sports Medicine Specialists expect to see a lot of elbow and shoulder injuries.
“A large portion of those injuries will be due to athletes who were not training or throwing much leading up to spring competition,” says Dr. Jordan. “They try to perform at the level they were prior to the pandemic interrupting training. That can result in big changes in their mechanics and how they throw the ball, leading to further injury.”
The benefit of having athletic trainers is that they are hands-on with the young athletes. McLeod Sports Medicine has 39 Certified Athletic Trainers (ATC) on staff who provide medical care to athletes in 31 schools in Florence, Darlington, Marion, Horry, Dillon, Clarendon, Lee, Marlboro, and Chesterfield counties, including 26 high schools, three middle schools, and two colleges. These athletes can find care at school or on the sidelines during a game. They have ongoing contact with the athletic trainer, and the trainers can determine whether an athlete needs further treatment, evaluation by a physician, or to start some form of rehabilitation.
ACTION YOU CAN TAKE
If your school-age athlete has pain that’s not going away, or is more significant when they play, they can be evaluated in the doctor’s office. You can call McLeod Orthopaedics at (843) 777-7900.