Growth Plate Injuries in Kids: Causes, Signs, and When to See a Doctor
You know that moment at a game when your kid takes a weird fall… stands up… and then says, “I’m fine,” but you can tell something’s off? That’s where a lot of growth plate injuries kids cases start. Not with a big crash. Just a twist, a landing, or a hard throw that didn’t feel right.
Most kid injuries really are bumps and bruises. But growth plates are different. They’re the “soft spots” at the ends of bones that help kids grow. And in youth sports, they can get hurt more easily than adult bones.
Let’s walk through what growth plates are, the growth plate injury symptoms to watch for, which sports raise risk, and when it’s time to call the doctor—without panic, but also without guessing.
What growth plates are (and why kids get injured differently)
A growth plate is a layer of cartilage (a softer, rubbery tissue) near the ends of long bones—like the wrist, ankle, knee, and shoulder. Cartilage isn’t as strong as bone. That’s why, in kids, the growth plate can be the “weak link.”
In adults, a similar force might cause a sprain (ligament injury). In kids, that same force can cause growth plate damage children deal with—sometimes even when the joint doesn’t look that swollen.
Growth plates “close” as kids finish puberty. Until then, they’re working hard, and they’re more vulnerable.
Why this matters in youth sports
Youth athletes often have:
- Fast growth (bones getting longer quickly)
- Changing coordination (“new legs” feeling)
- High practice volume (club + school + private training)
The Aspen Institute’s Project Play has long pushed for healthier youth sports environments—more rest, fewer overload schedules, and more multi-sport play—because the system can push kids into too much, too soon.
Common causes of growth plate injuries kids get in sports
Most growth plate injuries come from one of two buckets:
Big force (acute injury)
This is the classic moment: fall, collision, awkward landing, or a hard slide. This can cause a growth plate fracture youth sports doctors see often in wrists, ankles, and fingers.
Examples:
- Basketball: landing on another player’s foot → ankle growth plate injury
- Soccer: slide tackle or bad plant → knee/ankle growth plate injury
- Skateboard/ski: fall onto an outstretched hand → wrist growth plate fracture
Repeated stress (overuse injury)
This is sneakier. It builds over weeks. The pain may come and go, and the kid may still play pretty well… until they can’t.
Common overuse examples:
- Baseball/softball: throwing overload → shoulder or elbow growth plate irritation
- Gymnastics: lots of weight on hands → wrist growth plate stress
- Distance running: repeated pounding → heel or knee area pain
KidsHealth notes that early sport specialization (focusing on one sport year-round) can raise overuse injury risk, especially when rest is missing. See their guidance on sports specialization and kids.
Growth plate injury symptoms: what looks different than a sprain
Here’s the tricky part: growth plate injuries can look like a sprain. Sometimes the swelling is mild. Sometimes your kid can still walk.
But these growth plate injury symptoms should raise your suspicion:
- Pain right over the end of a bone (near a joint), not just “in the joint”
- Tender to touch on one spot (like a dime-sized area)
- Limping or refusing to use the arm/hand
- Pain that doesn’t improve much after 24–48 hours of rest
- Pain with normal pressure (like gripping a bat, pushing off to sprint, or landing)
- The limb “looks fine” but function is clearly worse
A quick “sprain vs growth plate” parent test (not perfect, but helpful)
Ask: Can they do basic daily stuff without sharp pain?
- If your child can’t open a door, write, walk normally, or go up stairs without pain, it’s time to get checked.
- If pain is sharp and pinpoint near the bone end, don’t just assume “sprain.”
Also: kids can have both. A sprain and a growth plate injury can happen together.
Sports with higher risk for growth plate fracture youth sports injuries
Any sport can cause them, but these tend to show up more often:
- Basketball/volleyball: jumping + landing (ankle, knee)
- Soccer/football/lacrosse: cutting + contact (ankle, knee)
- Baseball/softball: throwing volume (elbow, shoulder)
- Gymnastics/cheer: impact + weight-bearing on arms (wrist)
- Skate/ski/snowboard: falls (wrist)
Risk goes up during growth spurts and during heavy tournament stretches (multiple games per day with little rest).
Scenario 1: The “it’s just a sprain” ankle that won’t settle
Your 11-year-old rolls an ankle in basketball. It swells a little. They walk it off. Two days later, they still limp, and they hate hopping on that leg.
That’s a common story for growth plate injuries kids get at the ankle. In some cases, what looks like a sprain is actually a growth plate fracture near the ankle bone.
Practical numbers:
- If your child is still limping at 48 hours, or can’t do 10 pain-free single-leg hops, it’s a strong sign to get evaluated.
- If pain is 6/10 or higher when walking, don’t “wait it out” for a week.
A clinician may order X-rays. And here’s the annoying truth: some growth plate injuries don’t show clearly on the first X-ray. Doctors may treat based on exam and symptoms anyway (often with a boot or cast).
Scenario 2: The “throwing arm” that slowly starts to hurt
Now a different situation: your 13-year-old baseball player says their shoulder “feels tight.” They’re still pitching, but their velocity drops and they avoid throwing hard.
This can be overuse-related growth plate damage children get in the shoulder (often called “Little League shoulder” in everyday talk). It’s irritation at the shoulder growth plate from too much throwing, too often.
Practical numbers:
- If pain shows up during throwing and lasts into the next day, that’s a red flag.
- If your athlete throws 3+ days in a row (practice + lessons + games), risk rises fast.
- A good rule for many families: at least 1–2 full rest days per week from that sport, and at least 2–3 months off per year from overhead throwing (not necessarily off all sports).
KidsHealth emphasizes rest and avoiding year-round single-sport overload in their sports specialization guidance. And Project Play supports multi-sport participation and healthier schedules for long-term development.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
“If they can move it, it’s not broken.”
Kids can sometimes move a limb with a small growth plate fracture youth sports injury. Movement doesn’t rule it out.
“X-ray was normal, so we’re good.”
Some growth plate injuries are hard to see early. If pain and function don’t improve, follow up.
“They just need to toughen up.”
Most kids will try to play through pain because they don’t want to miss games. That’s not toughness—that’s being a kid who loves their team.
“Only contact sports cause growth plate injuries.”
Overuse can do it too, especially with year-round training and tournaments stacked on top of each other.
When to see a doctor for growth plate injury symptoms
Use this as a simple guide.
Go same day (urgent care or sports med) if:
- Obvious deformity, bone looks “out of place”
- Can’t bear weight or can’t use the arm normally
- Severe swelling right away
- Numbness/tingling or the hand/foot looks pale/cold
Make an appointment soon (within 1–3 days) if:
- Limp lasts more than 48 hours
- Pain is pinpoint at the end of a bone near a joint
- Pain keeps returning every practice
- Throwing/jumping/cutting hurts and doesn’t improve with rest
If you’re unsure, call your pediatrician or a pediatric sports medicine clinic. It’s okay to be “that parent.” You’re protecting the long game.
What treatment usually looks like (and why early care matters)
Many growth plate injuries heal well when treated early. Treatment might include:
- Rest from sport
- Boot, brace, splint, or cast
- Gradual return-to-play plan
- Physical therapy (strength, balance, and movement work)
Why the urgency? Because untreated growth plate damage children can, in some cases, affect how the bone grows. That could mean the bone grows a little crooked or a little shorter. That’s not the usual outcome—but it’s the reason doctors take growth plates seriously.
A simple how-to plan for parents (game day to next week)
Right after the injury
- Stop play if pain changes how they run, throw, or land.
- Use ice for comfort (10–15 minutes).
- Compression and elevation can help swelling.
- Skip “pain-masking” meds just to keep playing. You want honest feedback from their body.
Over the next 24–48 hours
- Watch function: walking, stairs, writing, gripping, hopping.
- Track pain (0–10) morning and night.
- If it’s not clearly improving, get checked.
Return to sport (basic checkpoints)
Before full return, many kids should be able to:
- Walk with no limp
- Do sport basics (jog, cut, jump, throw) with 0–2/10 pain
- Finish a practice and feel okay the next day
For training ideas that support safer comebacks, see our training guide and nutrition tips.
Bottom line: Key takeaways on growth plate injuries kids face
- Growth plates are softer areas of growing bone, so kids can get injured differently than adults.
- Growth plate injury symptoms often include pinpoint pain near a joint and pain that doesn’t improve in 48 hours.
- Both big falls and overuse can cause a growth plate fracture youth sports athletes deal with.
- Early evaluation matters because untreated growth plate damage children can sometimes affect growth.
- Smart scheduling (rest days, avoiding year-round single-sport overload) is a big part of prevention, as supported by Project Play and KidsHealth.