More youth suffer sports-related injuries, risk long-term effects

Cases range from fractures and dislocations to concussions

- Hana Chen

It happened in a matter of seconds. One minute, Ethan Chong was diving for the ball during his football training, and the next, he was on the ground with a dislocated shoulder.

He had fallen on his arm in an awkward position, causing his joint to pop out of its socket. He sat on the ground in panic for a few seconds before the joint popped back into place on its own.

Recounting the injury, Mr Chong, 19, recalled the immediate pain and soreness he felt, as well as his inability to lift his arm after sustaining the injury. Once his training ended, he went to the accident and emergency department to consult a medical professional.

"The doctor said that my shoulder would now be slightly more prone to recurrent dislocations in the future because the tendon holding my shoulder joint and socket together is now damaged and cannot hold them together as well as before," said Mr Chong.

"Additionally, if dislocations do occur, the tendon would completely tear and my shoulder will be prone to dislocate very easily."

After his first injury, Mr Chong continued to experience around two to three dislocations a year, further worsening his condition. Eventually, his tendon tore, and he went for surgery to repair his shoulder joint.

Mr Chong is just one of an increasing number of young people with sports- and recreation-related injuries. The injuries, which range from fractures and dislocations to concussions, are often sustained during sports training or other physical activities.

In 2020, a paediatric sports injuries study based on data from 2012 to 2017 at the KK Women's and Children's Hospital Children's Emergency found that the most common types of injuries among those aged 13 to 17 were fractures, sprains and contusions, superficial injuries such as cuts and abrasions, neurological injuries, and then dislocations.