Repairs for the effects of childhood injuries

Most childhood injuries — from a skinned knee when you fell off your bike to a bumped head when you fell out of the neighbourhood tree house — heal swiftly, causing no further problems. But more serious injuries can have consequences that show up or grow worse later in your life.  These guidelines will tell you more.

Childhood fractures can change the way bones finish growing. About 15 percent of injuries to a child's or teen's growth plate — the vulnerable area of growing tissue at the ends of long bones — can slow future growth of arm or leg bones. While a slight difference in the length of your arms won't cause problems, even a tiny discrepancy in leg length could. Foot pain, knee pain, hip pain and lower back pain have all been linked with small leg-length differences that can be difficult to detect on your own.

Knees are especially vulnerable. Growth-plate injuries at the knee can lead to crooked legs and knee pain. And if you ever tore your anterior cruciate ligament — the key ligament that keeps knee joints stable — you may be at higher risk for arthritis later in life.If you were a serious high school or college athlete who experienced more than two concussions, you may now be at higher risk for headaches, depression and memory problems as well as sleep problems, mood swings, ringing in the ears and poor concentration.

But you can take important steps to compensate for some problems and to prevent future damage.

You'll have less joint pain and, perhaps most important, less chance of a recurring injury.

Have your legs measured by a professional.Ask your family doctor, an orthopedic surgeon, back specialist or podiatrist to measure your legs if you've had ongoing foot, knee, hip or lower back pain.  A difference in leg lengths could be the cause — and might be corrected with something as simple as an orthopedic lift in your shoe.

This can help her make decisions about treating memory, sleep and mood problems.

If you had several concussions earlier in your life, skip sports and activities that could cause more damage if you fall, such as roller skating or ice skating. Be sure to wear a helmet if you bike or ski.

Stronger muscles can take some of the strain off of once-injured joints, and properly exercised joints get lots of nourishment and care from your bloodstream and immune system. Exercise also helps prevent the rise of arthritis and other aches and pains of aging. Avoid high-impact exercise, however, which can actually hurt or aggravate existing joint conditions.