Preventing Physeal Stress Injuries

Physeal stress injuries (PSIs) are a growing problem in youth and adolescent sport. Appropriate recognition and treatment involve a coordinated effort among sports physicians, athletic trainers, coaches, parents, and physical therapists. Prevention of physeal injuries is crucial to ensuring young athletes have the greatest chances of athletic success in their early sport careers and later in life. Many factors contribute to an athlete’s overall risk for physeal stress injuries, such as forces placed on the apophysis and epiphysis, overall demand of activity, nutritional factors, and energy availability. Sports care teams can influence these factors through education, training, and specific exercises.