Adolescent athletes are not just smaller adults. Growing bones, open growth plates (physes), rapid changes in strength and coordination, and the demands of intense junior sport create a distinct pattern of injury that requires a different approach to diagnosis and management.
Some of the conditions we commonly see in adolescent athletes include Osgood-Schlatter disease, Sever’s disease, spondylolysis (stress injury of the lower back), physeal injuries, and osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Specialist input helps families navigate these injuries confidently and keep young athletes engaged in their sport for the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Dr. West has significant experience working with junior and elite athletes across AFL, A-League, cricket and track and field, and understands the pressures that come with high-performance adolescent sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Liam West takes a history that covers not just the injury but the young athlete’s full load picture — school sport, club, state programs, strength work, and games per week. A careful examination looks for growth-plate-specific findings that can be missed in a general assessment.
If your child or teenager has a sports injury that’s not settling, book an appointment with Dr. Liam West, our Specialist Sports and Exercise Physician at Melbourne CBD Physiotherapy and Sports Medicine Clinic. You can also learn more about our complete Sports Medicine service.
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Dr Liam West is a Specialist Sport and Exercise Medicine (SEM) Physician and Head Doctor of Hawthorn Football Club. He brings extensive experience across AFL, Athletics (Track and Field) and Football (Soccer), with specialist expertise in bone, muscle, tendon and joint injuries. Liam served as Sports Doctor for the Australian Athletics Team at the 2018 & 2022 Commonwealth Games, and holds a Masters of Sports and Exercise Medicine and Fellowship of the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians.
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Bone Stress Fractures / Injuries | Ligament Injuries | Concussion | Joint Injuries (Shoulder & Knee)
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Multi-sport participation is associated with lower injury rates in adolescents than early sport specialisation. The issue is more often the total volume and the cumulative load across teams.
Usually yes, with modification. Complete withdrawal is rarely needed. The goal is to find the right level of activity that allows symptoms to settle while maintaining enjoyment and long-term participation.
Multi-sport participation is associated with lower injury rates in adolescents than early sport specialisation. The issue is more often the total volume and the cumulative load across teams.
Back pain in adolescents, especially in sports with repeated extension or rotation, is not to be dismissed. Stress injury of the lower lumbar spine (spondylolysis) requires specific assessment and imaging.
