Children are not just little adults, their anatomy and development make them distinctly different from adults. A child's bones, joints and muscles are in the process of growing, and as a result the treatment methods for injury are often different then a similar adult condition. Each bone starts as a cartilage model, which develops and matures into adult bone. During growth, the anatomy of the developing musculoskeletal systems changes, which can produce unique injuries and medical problems in children. The growth plate is composed of growing cartilage, and allows the bone to grow in length and diameter. The cartilage of the growth plate is not as strong as the surrounding bone, which makes children more susceptible to injuries of the growth plate. Growth plate injuries are especially common in fractures or athletic injuries. These injuries must be treated appropriately, to minimize the chance of permanent growth plate injuries. Growth plate injuries can lead to significant problems with future growth. Children can also develop overuse injuries around the growth plates. These are especially common because children are actively involved in year-round sports. In most cases, these injuries will resolve with rest, alterations in training conditions, and appropriate equipment use.