Common Overuse Injuries in Fall Sports: What Parents Should Know for Their Athlete
Fall sports bring a lot of running, jumping, cutting, throwing, tumbling, and repetition. While some muscle soreness can be a normal part of being active, persistent pain should not be ignored.
Overuse injuries develop gradually when the demands placed on the body exceed its ability to recover. They often start as a small ache or soreness and can become more serious when an athlete continues to push through the pain.
The good news? Recognizing symptoms early and addressing the underlying cause can help young athletes recover, move better, and stay active.
What Should Parents Watch For?
Pay attention if your athlete has:
Pain that keeps coming back
Pain that worsens during or after activity
A limp or change in how they run, jump, or move
Swelling or tenderness in one specific area
Pain that does not improve with rest
Pain that begins affecting everyday activities
Young athletes do not always speak up when something hurts. Sometimes, a change in performance or movement is the first sign that something is wrong.
Common Injuries by Sport
Cheerleading
Common areas: feet, ankles, knees, back, shoulders, and wrists.
Repeated tumbling, jumping, landing, and stunting can place significant stress on the body.
Watch for:
Foot or lower-leg pain that worsens with impact
Persistent lower back pain
Pain or swelling below the knee during growth spurts
Shoulder pain or a feeling of instability
Wrist pain during tumbling or weight-bearing movements
Cross Country
Common areas: shins, knees, calves, Achilles tendon, and feet.
Running high mileage—especially with sudden increases in training—can lead to repetitive stress injuries.
Watch for:
Shin pain
Pain around the kneecap
Calf or hamstring tightness and strains
Achilles pain or stiffness
Heel or arch pain
A runner who changes their stride to avoid pain should be evaluated.
Field Hockey
Common areas: back, shins, knees, hamstrings, and feet.
The combination of running, cutting, and playing in a forward-bent position can create repetitive stress.
Watch for:
Persistent lower back pain
Shin or foot pain
Knee or Achilles tendon pain
Heel or arch pain
Football
Common areas: knees, shins, ankles, back, and feet.
Sprint work, jumping, repetitive impacts, and strength training can all contribute to overuse injuries.
Watch for:
Pain below the kneecap
Shin pain
Achilles pain or stiffness
Pain and swelling below the knee in growing athletes
Persistent back or foot pain
Golf
Common areas: back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and hands.
The golf swing is a highly repetitive movement that requires mobility, strength, and coordination throughout the body.
Watch for:
Lower back pain
Pain on the inside or outside of the elbow
Shoulder pain during the swing
Wrist or hand pain
Repeated pain during a swing is often a sign that something in the movement pattern needs attention.
Soccer
Common areas: shins, knees, ankles, heels, and feet.
Running, sprinting, cutting, kicking, and jumping create repeated stress on the lower body.
Watch for:
Shin pain
Pain below the kneecap
Achilles pain or stiffness
Heel pain in younger athletes
Knee pain during growth spurts
Persistent foot pain
Swimming
Common areas: shoulders, knees, back, and neck.
Swimming requires thousands of repetitive movements during a single practice.
Watch for:
Shoulder pain during or after swimming
Inner knee pain with breaststroke
Lower back pain
Persistent neck tightness or discomfort
Pain that begins affecting stroke technique should not be ignored.
Diving
Common areas: back, shoulders, wrists, and knees.
Repeated jumping, twisting, arching, and water entries can place stress on multiple joints.
Watch for:
Persistent lower back pain
Shoulder pain during training or entry
Wrist pain or swelling
Pain below the kneecap when jumping
Volleyball
Common areas: knees, shoulders, back, and wrists.
Jumping, landing, serving, and hitting place repeated demands on the body.
Watch for:
Knee pain during jumping or landing
Shoulder pain with serving or hitting
Persistent lower back pain
Wrist pain with repetitive ball contact
Don’t Just Treat the Pain — Find the Cause
At Core Physical Therapy & Performance, we believe in looking beyond the painful area to understand why the problem developed in the first place.
An athlete with knee pain, for example, may also have strength deficits, mobility restrictions, or movement patterns that are contributing to the problem.
Our approach docs on:
RESET
Address pain and restore comfortable movement.
RESTORE
Identify and address the underlying factors contributing to the injury.
RELOAD
Build strength, confidence, and resilience so athletes can return to their sport and stay active.
The goal isn’t just to get an athlete back on the field, court, course, or pool. It’s to help them move confidently, perform at their best, and reduce the risk of future setbacks.
Helping Active Kids Stay Active
If your child is dealing with persistent pain, a recurring injury, or difficulty returning to their sport, addressing it early can make a big difference.
At Core Physical Therapy & Performance, we provide personalized, one-on-one care designed to help athletes recover, move better, and get back to doing what they love.
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