Overuse syndrome is a term used to describe a group of diseases that occur due to excessive stress on a anatomic area of the body. Typically, microtrauma occurs as a repeated injury usually not noticed initially because the injury is microscopic in magnitude.

Over time, the cumulative trauma leads to pain and in some cases, significant disability. Overuse syndromes can occur at any age, although it is very common in children because of peculiarities of growth.

Examples of overuse syndromes in children include the following.

• Sever's disease - inflammation of the growth cartilage at the heel (the calcaneal apophysis) and the insertion of the Achilles tendon at the heel.
  
  

• Ankle sprain - especially the lateral ligaments.
  
  

• Shin splints - often used to describe pain along the shin of the leg, which could include stress fracture of the tibia, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, and periostitis of the tibia.
  
  

• Patello-femoral syndrome - also called anterior knee pain or chondromalacia patella.
  
  

• Little League elbow - or pitcher's elbow.
  
  

• Shoulder impingement syndrome - common in pitchers in baseball and swimmers.
  
  

• Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis - common in gymnastics, football and weightlifting.