Children with sports pain should stop playing until checked

What the research found

Three health guidance pages agree. One says not to work through pain and to stop right away, because carrying on may cause more harm. Another says to stop the activity if it hurts. A third says trying to play before an injury has healed only causes further damage and delays recovery.

For children, a bone that is tender to touch needs a medical check even if there is little swelling. Guidance also warns that what looks like a sprain can be a broken bone. Return to sport should depend on a doctor's or physio's assessment. See a doctor if pain lasts more than a couple of days.

Research suggests the advice is not 'rest until it stops hurting'. A 2026 trial of 64 young athletes with a back stress injury found starting physio within 7 days beat resting first. They returned to sport 38 days sooner, with fewer repeat back pain episodes. A 2023 consensus on children's concussion favours early light activity over strict rest.

What it doesn’t mean

• Stopping is not the same as long bed rest. After a check, the doctor may suggest rehab, light activity or other exercise that spares the sore area.
• Some injuries are emergencies. Guidance says to call an ambulance for head, neck, spine, face, eye or abdominal injuries, broken bones or prolonged loss of consciousness.
• Minor knocks may be safe to treat at home at first. See a doctor if pain is severe, swelling or bruising is bad, the child cannot put weight on it, or pain lasts more than a few days.