Most of us have probably seen or heard the sad story of a kid who must spend the whole summer on the sideline in a cast, sling or on crutches while watching all the other kids run and play and well … be kids.

As the temperatures get warmer, kids are going to be active — and getting hurt. But it is not always easy to tell the difference between a minor bump or bruise and an injury that needs medical attention. Understanding the basics of childhood injuries is important. Follow along as we guide you through what to look for, when to seek help and how to prevent injury altogether.

Acute vs. Overuse Injuries

While there can be overlap in preventing and managing injuries, they generally occur in two different ways: 

Acute injuries happen suddenly. Examples include:

• Falling off the monkey bars
  
  
• Twisting an ankle
  
  
• Landing wrong during a game
  
  
• Getting hit during sports

Overuse injuries happen slowly over time by repeating the same movements again and again without enough rest. Often common in kids who play one sport year-round, if overuse injuries are ignored, they can sometimes turn into stress fractures or more serious injuries. Examples include:

• Stress fractures from running or jumping
  
  
• Little League elbow from repetitive throwing in baseball
  
  
• Shoulder pain in baseball pitchers
  
  
• Achilles tendon pain in runners
  
  
• Wrist pain in gymnasts 

When Should Parents Seek Medical Care? 

When asking, “How do I know if this injury is serious?” The answer is not always simple. For acute injuries, start with rest, ice and observation. If swelling, pain or trouble moving continues into the next day, your child should be evaluated. 

Signs that point to a more serious injury include:

• Swelling
  
  
• Bruising
  
  
• Pain that does not improve with rest
  
  
• Limping
  
  
• Trouble moving a joint
  
  
• Refusing to use an arm or leg
  
  
• Pain when touching a bone
  
  
• A limb that looks bent or out of place
  
  
• Not being able to walk or bear weight, especially with leg injuries
  
  
• Behavior changes: Younger children may not always be able to explain what hurts. For example, a child may stop using one arm, avoid walking or become upset when an area is touched
  
  
• Pay close attention to how long symptoms last. If your child sustains an injury and quickly goes back to playing, it’s usually reassuring. But if they are still struggling to move normally hours later or the next day, it is a good idea to get the injury checked

Understanding Fractures

Broken bones, or fractures, can happen when there is a partial or complete break of a bone. Most fractures are diagnosed with X-rays, but children’s injuries can sometimes look different than adult injuries.

When adults break a bone, the injury is often easy to spot on imaging. In children, fractures can be more subtle. Sometimes a bone bends instead of fully breaking, while other injuries involve the growth plate — the softer area near the ends of children’s bones where new bone develops.

Growth plates are an important part of how children grow. They can also make injuries harder to diagnose. Sometimes an injury is truly just that space is a millimeter wider than it was before the injury occurred.

Because these injuries may not always immediately appear on imaging, pediatric orthopedic specialists are trained to recognize subtle signs, monitor healing closely and care for growing bones as children recover and return to the activities they love.

Seeking Care: When, Where and How

Where, when and how you seek care is meaningful, in the way the injury is treated and the duration of treatment.

Where To Seek Care

Children’s injuries can look very different than adult injuries because kids’ bones are still growing. Growing bones can bend, break and heal differently than adult bones. That’s why it’s important to seek care from pediatric orthopedic specialists who understand how to diagnose and treat injuries in growing bodies.

When To Go To Urgent Care 

Urgent care can help diagnose injuries. Pediatric urgent care clinics can often:

• Perform X-rays
  
  
• Provide splints
  
  
• Help arrange orthopedic follow-up care
  
  
• At Children’s Wisconsin, urgent care providers can directly schedule follow-up appointments with orthopedic specialists when needed.

When To Go To the Emergency Department

Some injuries need care in the Emergency Department right away, such as:

• Bone is coming through the skin
  
  
• The limb looks bent or the skin around the injury is pale, blue or numb
  
  
• Your child has severe pain, swelling or can’t move the injured area

Rest Is Critical in Recovery

Many youth feel pressure to keep playing or remaining active, even when they are hurt. But trying to “tough it out” can sometimes make the injury worse. In many cases, kids can still safely participate in light activity while they recover. The key is protecting the healing process so they can safely return to the sports and activities they love later.

Prevent Injury Altogether

While not every injury can be prevented, healthy habits and smart training can go a long way in helping kids stay safe and active. Habits that help reduce risk of injury include:

• Warming up and stretching before activity
  
  
• Slowly increasing training intensity
  
  
• Wearing proper shoes and equipment
  
  
• Staying hydrated
  
  
• Eating balanced meals
  
  
• Getting proper sleep
  
  
• Taking breaks from year-round sports
  
  
• Speaking up about pain early
  
  
• Avoiding one-sport specialization: Encourage your kids to play multiple sports when possible. Repeating the same movements over and over can put stress on growing bones and joints. Different activities work different muscle groups and help reduce overuse injuries.

Trust Your Instincts

Parents know their children best. If something doesn’t seem right after an injury, seek medical care. In pediatric orthopedics, treating injuries early before they become more serious is the best approach.

Most importantly, patient families should know they don’t have to figure it out alone. Pediatric providers, urgent care and orthopedic teams are here to help children heal safely and get back to being kids.