Gwenaelle Mak fell in love with artistic gymnastics at age five and began competing in major events like the National School Games from Primary 5. Now 16, she acknowledges that increased training frequency raises injury risks.

Both KK Women’s and Children's Hospital (KKH) and the National University Hospital (NUH), Singapore’s only public hospitals admitting paediatric orthopaedic cases, report a growing number of sports injuries among children.

Dr Zackary Chua of ACME Orthopaedics explained that young athletes engaging in frequent running and jumping, whether in contact or non-contact sports, are prone to conditions like Sever's disease (heel pain) and Osgood-Schlatter disease (knee pain). Musculoskeletal physiotherapist Goh Chun Kiat noted that growth spurts cause bones to grow faster than muscles and tendons, leading to tightness and altered biomechanics.

A case in point is 12-year-old Neo Hean Kai, who developed a chronic injury after nearly a year of basketball training up to five times a week. His father, Neo Yong Aik, said they first suspected Osgood-Schlatter disease about two years ago due to recurring knee pain.

Associate Professor Mohammad Ashik, head of the Singapore Sport and Exercise Medicine Centre at KKH, advises that a 10-year-old should ideally spend no more than 10 hours per week in structured sporting activities to prevent overuse injuries.

Doctors told CNA TODAY that while children are training harder and competing more than ever, the rising number of injuries serves as a reminder that young bodies need adequate time to recover.

Sources