At our adolescent sports injury clinic in Redcliffe, we work with teens who are passionate about their sport but struggling with pain, tightness, or fatigue that just doesn’t go away. These problems are often the result of juggling multiple sports throughout the year, including weekend games, after-school training and even state-level competitions.
While all this activity can be great for developing their strength, coordination, and confidence, it also puts them at greater risk of injury, especially if their bodies don’t get enough time to rest and recover between training sessions or games.
Our Senior Physiotherapist, Ciarán Caldwell, has extensive experience in adolescent physiotherapy and treating high school-aged athletes. He understands the demands of busy sports schedules and works closely with teens and their families to prevent injuries and support their long-term performance.
Whether your teen is into swimming, AFL, netball, or any other mix of sports, here’s all you need to know to keep your kids active and injury-free.
Why Are Multi-Sport Teen Athletes at Risk of Injury?
Teen injuries rarely come down to just one thing—it’s often a mix of physical changes, training habits, and life pressures all happening at once. Here are some of the most common causes of sports injuries seen by Ciarán at our adolescent sports injury clinic.
- Growth spurts: Bones grow quickly, often faster than muscles and tendons can adapt, leading to tightness and imbalance.
- Sudden increases in training: Adding more sessions or switching between sports without enough recovery time can overload the body.
- Poor technique or lack of warm-up: Without proper prep and guidance, teens may unknowingly put extra strain on joints and muscles.
- Fatigue and stress: A busy school schedule, pressure to perform, and not enough rest can affect both physical movement and recovery.
- No time to build strength: Many teens are constantly playing but rarely have time for strength and conditioning to support their growing bodies.
Ciarán and our adolescent physiotherapy team take a big-picture approach to injury prevention—it’s not just about what happens on the field, but also what’s going on at school, at home, and during their downtime.
Signs Your Teen Might Be Doing Too Much
It can be tough to tell the difference between general tiredness and something more serious happening with your teen. So here are five warning signs that may indicate a problem is brewing.
- Persistent pain or soreness after playing sports.
- Limping, restricted movements, or favouring one side of their body.
- Changes in performance, focus, or confidence.
- Delayed recovery from minor knocks or training.
- Emotional changes—irritability, frustration, or withdrawal from sport.
If your teen is experiencing any of these issues, it’s worth speaking with Ciarán at our adolescent sports injury clinic, as early treatment leads to faster recovery and fewer complications.
How Can Adolescent Physiotherapy Help Your Teen?
As an expert in adolescent physiotherapy, Ciarán uses a mix of education, hands-on treatments, and personalised exercise programs to manage their injuries and prevent them from happening again.
His approach includes:
- Individualised injury assessments and movement screening.
- Hands-on treatment to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Exercise programs designed for growing bodies.
- Education around recovery, load management, and technique.
- Coordination with coaches and parents, where needed.
- Gradual return-to-sport planning that feels safe and sustainable.
Ciarán’s not just focused on healing the injury—he’s focused on setting your teen up to perform well and avoid causing the same problems in the future.
Give Your Teen the Support to Keep Playing
Being involved in sport is one of the best things a teenager can do for their health and wellbeing—but only if their body can keep up. If your teen is pushing through pain or struggling to recover after playing sports, it might be time for a check-in.
Book an appointment with our adolescent sports injury clinic, and Ciarán will help your teen stay active, pain-free, and ready for everything the season throws at them.