As the weather heats up, the outdoor sports are really getting underway in schools and youth leagues. It is no surprise that during these months, pediatric injuries are much higher. Children who play competitive sports are obviously more likely to incur some sort of injury than those who don’t. There is new evidence to suggest however, that even within this category, that girls are more likely to sustain a serious sports injury than boys.

Girls have a couple things that work against them (so to speak) that can make them more susceptible to injury. First, girls tend to have wider hips than boys and land in a “knock-kneed” position which can increase the likelihood of some sort of muscular injury, like a torn ACL. Another common injury in girls, is a repetitive motion injury to a joint like the shoulder. These types of injuries occur most often in girls who play softball and volleyball.

One main reason girls are suffering from these injuries is really from lack of proper training. There are programs offered out there to help girls who play a sport like soccer to learn how to jump and land more effectively, therefore reducing their risk of knee or ankle injury. Proper stretching and limited usage in throwing and hitting could help prevent serious shoulder injuries. The best way to avoid a repetitive motion injury is to vary your activity. Instead of focusing only on pitching a softball or serving a volleyball, athletes should try to experience other sports to give their shoulder muscles a break. The same advice goes for serious soccer players. Trying something new, like lacrosse or tennis will give those knees a break for a bit and possibly help avoid a serious injury.