PLANTATION, Fla. – Doctors are reporting an increase in “overuse” injuries in minors. Most of the injuries involve knees, shoulders, elbows, and ankles.
April is National Youth Sports Safety Month, a time for high school athletes like Megan Grant to raise awareness about safe practices.
The teen who lives in Sunrise said she started to kick a soccer ball before she was three years old and although it is her passion it took a toll on her.
“During club season and high school season, I am practicing pretty much every day,” Megan said. “Then I will have club games on the weekends. It’s crazy.”
During a high school soccer game, when Megan was a freshman, she made a quick change in direction while her foot was planted and collapsed in pain.
“It was a turf field, so my cleat was planted in the turf, so then when I turned only my knee turned, and then my foot just stayed like planted,” Megan said.
Baptist Health Orthopedic Care in Plantation treated her for a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament, or ACL, one of the most common types of knee injuries.
During surgery, Dr. Fernando Moya, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon, took a tendon from behind Megan’s kneecap, inserted it into the knee joint, and secured it with screws below the knee and above the knee.
Megan went home the same day and started physical therapy the next day with Justin Bennett and Edward Dungca at Baptist Health Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation.
Megan underwent three weekly therapies for about a year. A new dream was born during the experience: Megan is an aspiring orthopedic surgeon and is preparing to start pre-med at Florida State University.
Megan said she also learned about the importance of stretching. Moya said it’s also important for young athletes to strengthen their bodies and focus on nutrition and resting to lower their injury risk.
“High school kids, even middle school kids are specializing in sports from a very early age,” Moya said adding some are playing and practicing more than even professional athletes do.