The Most Common Teen Sports Injuries
If you’ve got a teen who plays sports, you already know how much time, energy, and heart they put into the game.
Practices, workouts, weekend tournaments—it’s a lot of dedication. And sometimes, no matter how focused your teen is on proper training, or how careful they are, injuries happen.
As a parent, it’s tough to watch your teen athlete deal with the pain and recovery that comes with sports injuries. When young athletes miss out on playing in big games, it can be heartbreaking.
But there is good news for injured athletes. Most sports injuries respond well to the right kind of care.
At Cloud Peak Chiropractic, we often treat injuries from sports. We focus on restoring movement, easing pain, and helping athletes recover faster.
What sports injuries do we treat as chiropractors?
We treat injuries related to your teen’s musculoskeletal system.
Certain sports put specific stresses on joints, muscles and connective tissues. Some of the most common injuries we see from typical teen sports include:
Ankle Sprains and Strains
We see a lot of ankle sprains and strains in sports like basketball, soccer, volleyball, and football. These sports put a lot of pressure on the ankle through quick pivots, sudden stops, and hard landings.
How do ankle sprains and strains happen?
Twisting or rolling the ankle overstretches or tears the ligaments
How does chiropractic help with ankle sprains and strains?
Adjustments restore ankle alignment and motion
Kinesiotaping reduces swelling and speeds healing
Rehab exercises strengthen stabilizing muscles to prevent re-injury
Knee Strains and Sprains (Including ACL Injuries)
Knee injuries are some of the most common issues we treat in athletes who play football, soccer, basketball, and track.
Quick direction changes, heavy impacts, and awkward landings all put the knee at risk.
How do knee strains and sprains happen?
Sudden pivots, jumps, or impacts overstretch or tear ligaments like the ACL
How does chiropractic help with knee strains and sprains?
Adjustments improve knee mechanics and reduce joint stress
Kinesiotaping reduces swelling and speeds healing
Strengthening exercises restore stability and flexibility
Hip, Thigh, and Upper Leg Strains
Athletes in soccer, football, softball, and track often deal with hip, thigh, or upper leg strains. Sprinting, sliding, and kicking can overload these muscles and leave them tight or injured.
How do hip, thigh, and upper leg strains happen?
Overstretching or tearing of muscles and tendons around the hip and thigh
How does chiropractic help with hip, thigh, and upper leg strains?
Adjustments to the hip and pelvis correct imbalances
Soft tissue therapy eases tightness
Corrective exercises improve strength and range of motion
Back Pain and Muscle Strains
Back pain shows up in nearly every sport, but we see it most often in football, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, and weightlifting. The back takes on a lot of strain from heavy use, awkward postures, and hard collisions.
How does back pain and muscle strain happen?
Overuse, poor posture, heavy loading, or collisions strain muscles and irritate nerves
How does chiropractic help with back pain and muscle strains?
Spinal adjustments improve mobility and relieve nerve irritation
Soft tissue therapy relaxes stiff muscles
Core exercises build protection for the spine
Shoulder Strains and Sprains
Shoulder problems are especially common in football, baseball, softball, tennis, and swimming. Overhead motions, throwing, and intense impacts put a lot of stress on the shoulder joint.
How do shoulder strains and sprains happen?
Muscles, tendons, or ligaments are strained from overhead motions or trauma
How does chiropractic help with shoulder strains and sprains?
Adjustments restore shoulder joint motion
Soft tissue therapy reduces inflammation and tension
Rehab exercises build strength and stability
Wrist and Hand Sprains and Strains
We see plenty of wrist and hand injuries in volleyball, basketball, and football. Falls and hard impact with the ball often stress these smaller joints.
How do wrist and hand sprains and strains happen?
Falls or repetitive use overstretch or tear ligaments and muscles
How does chiropractic help with wrist and hand sprains and strains?
Adjustments restore wrist and hand joint function
Soft tissue therapy eases inflammation
Strengthening exercises improve grip and stability
Neck Pain and Strains
Neck strains are frequent in high-contact sports like wrestling, football, and gymnastics. Tackles, falls, high tension holds, and awkward landings can all leave the neck tight and sore.
How do neck strains happen?
Impact or overuse leads to muscle tightness, nerve irritation, and stiffness
How does chiropractic help with neck strains?
Gentle spinal adjustments relieve nerve pressure
Soft tissue therapy reduces spasms and tension
Restored mobility reduces stiffness
General Muscle Strains
Muscle strains can happen in any sport, but we see them most often in track, football, soccer, and basketball. Overtraining, fatigue, or skipping warm-ups makes strains more likely.
How do general muscle strains happen?
Overstretching or tearing muscle fibers
How does chiropractic help with general muscle strains?
Adjustments improve alignment and circulation
Soft tissue therapy speeds healing and eases pain
Rehab restores flexibility and strength to prevent future injury
Injuries aren’t always avoidable, but chiropractic can help if your kids do get injured.
There are also things you can encourage your kids to do in order to avoid injury.
Injury prevention guidelines for teen sports.
The best way to deal with sports injuries is to prevent them whenever possible.
Proper warm-up and cool-down routines help muscles handle the demands of training and competition.
The right equipment and footwear make a big difference in reducing strain on joints.
Building overall strength and flexibility—not just sport-specific skills—protects joints from injury.
Recovery is just as important as active training. Make time for rest to give muscles and joints a chance to heal and adapt.
We can help your teen athlete stay competitive.
Injuries always feel like a setback, but most athletes can recover faster than they expect.
By working to restore movement, reduce pain, and build strength and flexibility, we can help your athlete get back out there.
Sports injuries don’t have to end a season. With chiropractic care, your teen can heal well, and get back to competing with confidence.
If you're dealing with sports injuries, come see us in Thermopolis or Worland. Call or text our office to schedule an appointment. We'll help you keep your athlete strong, healthy, and competitive.