Injury toll mounts on
JACK Walters was barely a teenager when he ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in an under-14 grand final.
It was shocking luck for a promising 13-year-old who had the potential to play football at a high level.
But the Anglesea teen’s injury, which forced him to undergo surgery and sit out a full season of the game he loves, is becoming more prevalent.
ACL surgeries in children have soared by 148 per cent over the past decade, according to Sports Medicine Australia.
Orthopedic surgeon Matthew Hutchinson said everything from footwear to playing surfaces were being examined as causes behind the rise.
“There is no doubt we are seeing more and more young children rupture their ACL playing sport — the sheer volume of sport they are playing increases the risk of an ACL injury,” he said.
“It’s not uncommon for me to treat young patients who are training every day of the week, as well as playing two to three games of sport on the weekend.”
Walters, now aged 18, subscribes to the theory that the large demands on aspiring athletes leaves them vulnerable to serious injuries.
“It’s a big stress on your body and you’re obviously growing as a kid. For me, I think the fatigue factor was pretty big,” he said.
“Going into games fatigued or doing training sessions fatigued increases your injury risk quite severely.”
Walters’ aspiring football career was dealt another blow last year when he missed 15 weeks because of a separate knee injury.
But the winger has fully recovered and established himself as a key member of the Geelong Falcons TAC side.
Experts had long erred on the side of caution, believing there was a risk in reconstructing an ACL while kids were still growing.
But the emergence of specific techniques has seen more surgeries on adolescent athletes in recent years.
The treatment of kids and teens, including hot topics such as concussion, eating disorders and weight training, will be discussed at a national forum in Geelong tomorrow.
Cricket Australia’s sports medicine and sports science manager Alex Kountouris and Hawthorn Football Club doctor Michael Makdissi are among the leading experts at the symposium.
Mr Kountouris will present his research into load management and preventing adolescent athletes from breaking down.
Event organiser and La Trobe University researcher Liam West said the event would bring together some of the most highly credentialled experts in adolescent sports and exercise medicine.
“They will share their knowledge across a range of topics to help prevent, identify and manage adolescent injuries,” he said.