Focus on One Sport Risks Injury
A mix of sports gives the body time to bounce back
 Severe injuries are
on the rise in young
athletes, studies show,
and a year-round focus
on a single sport bears
part of the blame.
Intense, full-time
efforts in one sport
"can really lead to a lot
of overuse injuries in
these children," says
Jennifer King, D.O.,
Kapi'olani pediatric sports medicine
specialist. "This is damage we never used
to see until they were in high school or
even college."
Young athletes are still growing. That
means they face a higher risk of harm
than adults.
Research shared at the 2007 meeting
of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons found sports injuries lead to
two out of five emergency room visits
by children ages 5 to 14. Other findings:
- Some students, not yet in high school,
now hurt their shoulders so badly they
need surgery once reserved for older
athletes.
- Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament
(ACL) are now seen in 9- and 10-year-olds.
The ACL links the upper and lower leg
bones at the front of the knee.
- Arm injuries are way up in young pitchers.
Experts blame a poor throwing motion.
Why is year-round play at fault? "We're
not seeing the selective stress distributed
about their body like we used to see in
childhood athletes, where they played
baseball for fun this month and next month was basketball and next season
was football," Dr. King says.
Experts say players, parents, and
coaches must heed the needs of
growing bodies. Training should
match the child's stage of growth.
"Stress would be placed in different
areas of the child's body, allowing time
for recovery," she adds. "There is widespread
overtraining of children."
Experts say players, parents, and coaches
must heed the needs of growing bodies.
Training should match the child's stage
of growth.
Jennifer King, D.O.
 | "Having a 12-year-old only do strength
training is working against the child's
natural development. That is an age for
working on coordination and speed, which
are best improved by a variety of activities
rather than one specialized activity,"
Dr. King says.
A strict routine of training while
young thwarts creativity, she adds. "For
the 5- to 12-year-old, free play is essential
for stimulating creativity.
| What Is a Pediatric Sports Medicine Specialist? |
If your child ever suffers an injury that affects his or her sports performance,
or ability to exercise or participate in activities such as dancing, a pediatric
sports medicine specialist has the expertise to safely assist your child in
returning performance to an optimal level.
In addition to a residency, pediatric sports medicine specialists complete
a one- to two-year fellowship training in pediatric sports medicine. They are
well-equipped to manage the sports injuries that occur in children, which are
often very different from injuries seen in older adults. |
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