YOUTH SPORT INJURIES
Over the last decade, the incidence of injuries in young athletes has rapidly increased. Common adult and overuse injuries are being diagnosed in young children participating in single sport with high demands.
Children are playing single sports year-round and over training. These kids are playing at competitive levels with improper techniques, inadequate warm-ups, and underdeveloped strength. In addition, these athletes have no recovery time.
However, one of the most important concepts to note is that these children are playing single, competitive sport. The current mindset pushes children at an incredibly early age to pick a single sport. This no longer allows young athletes to explore the diversity of sports and find what they truly love and enjoy.
Remember that athletes in any sport need power, agility, and strength. Playing multiple sports does not stop a child from training. In fact, there are advantages to playing multiple sports rather than specializing.
- Young athletes reduce the risk of overuse injuries. Using the same muscles repeatedly for a long time can lead to severe injury. By playing different sports, players stress different muscles throughout training. Playing multiple sports improves overall strength and conditioning of athletes.
- Athletes can learn from multiple coaches and coaching styles.
- Training can transfer. Speed, power running, jumping, agility, throwing, swing, kicking and countless other moves are all transferable skills. For example, the same muscles you use jump and rebound a basketball are the same muscle used in a swimmer to push off the blocks.
- Involvement in multiple sports increases youth athletes focus in the game, creativity, and mental enhancement. Lessons learned from one sport transfer to the other.
- Playing multiple sports significantly reduces the risk of athlete burnout.
- Youth athletes learn how to deal with adversity. An athlete can be the star quarterback on the football team but sits on the bench playing baseball. However, you learn to be a better teammate and build character overall.
- Playing multiple sports is about having FUN and loving to compete!
It is known that a small precent of high school athletes who make it to college are more likely to have played multiples sports. In the 2021 NFL draft of the 32 first-round draft picks, 27 played one additional sport other than football in high school, and 10 of the 32 played two other sports. In fact, consistently around 70% of NFL players played more than one sport in high school.
There are many professional athletes who played multiple sports in high school and some of those recognizable names are: Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Mauer, Bo Jackson, Alex Rodriguez, Deion Sanders, Michael Jordon and John Elway.
One of the loudest voices encouraging child athletes to compete in multisport is Dr. James Andrews. Dr. Andrews is one of the founding members of the American Sports Medicine Institute, the Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Center in Birmingham, Alabama, the American Sports Medicine Institute (ASMI), and the Andrews Research and Education Foundation. He is one of the most renown sports medicine doctors in the United States.
Dr. Andrews has noted that in the last decade his practice has gone from 15% to 40% of youth sports injuries. He strongly recommends developing athletes have at least two months a year off from a high-stress activity like pitching and highly encourages athletes to play multiple sports to physically develop properly.
And according to Nike Sports Camps, it is proven that multi-sport athletes display improved health and wellness, including decreased injury rates, improved athletic performance, improved leadership skills and teamwork, better attendance in school and better academic performance.
Folks, there is a reason why the MLB has gotten involved in campaigns like Smart Pitch to set up guidelines for pitch count and rest guidelines for ages 7 to 22. More and more athletes in MLB at entering their professional career already scarred by surgery.
Overuse and injury are far too common in youth athletes. Remember that playing sports is about having fun and yes that means competing and wanting to win. But it means that athletes need diversity, proper training, good technique and support from their family.
At PRO Physical therapy we want to help athletes to be safe and excel! Our physical and occupation therapists are here to help you recover from injury and prevent injury.
Stay fit, motivated, and challenged!
Scan our QR Code with your phone to visit PRO Physical Therapy Website!
You can also click on our website link: https://prophysicaltherapyservices.com
270-252-7600
302 US HWY 68 West
Benton KY 42082
Schedule Your Consultation at PRO Physical Therapy
Are you ready to end your muscle or joint pain? PRO Physical Therapy can help you get started today. To find out more about direct access and our physical therapy services in Marshall County, Kentucky, call 270-252-7600 and schedule an initial evaluation and our experienced insurance can verify your insurance coverage.
Stay fit, motivated, and challenged!
Scan our QR Code with your phone to visit PRO Physical Therapy Website!
You can also click on our website link: https://prophysicaltherapyservices.com
270-252-7600
302 US HWY 68 West
Benton KY 42082
Schedule Your Consultation at PRO Physical Therapy
Are you ready to end your muscle or joint pain? PRO Physical Therapy can help you get started today. To find out more about direct access and our physical therapy services in Marshall County, Kentucky, call 270-252-7600 and schedule an initial evaluation and our experienced insurance can verify your insurance coverage.
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