Focus on one sport risks injury

A mix of sports gives the body time to bounce back

Studies show that repetitive-use injuries are on the rise in young athletes, and a year-round focus on a single sport may be partly to blame.
"Intense, full-time efforts in one sport can lead to a lot of the overuse injuries in these children," said Dr. Philip Wilson, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon in the Sports Medicine Center at Children's. "This is damage we used to never see until they were late in high school or even college."
True to their name, repetitive-use injuries are caused when certain motions or sports actions are repeated too much in too little time. Physical activity breaks down the body, and a certain level of rest is required for the body to recover, especially in children whose bodies are still growing.

As a result, when a child frequently repeats a motion — like pitching, for instance — without taking time off, a repetitive-use injury like Little League elbow is a common side effect.

Dr. Wilson recently shared his expertise in a video about overuse injuries in young athletes.

Examples of repetitive-use injuries

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 one month and the next month was basketball and next season was football," Dr. Wilson said. "Stress would be placed in different areas of the child's body, allowing time for recovery," Dr. Wilson said. "There is widespread overtraining of children."

Players, parents and coaches must heed the needs of growing bodies. Training should match the child's stage of growth.

A 12-year-old in strength training is working against his 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.

"A strict routine of training while young thwarts creativity," Dr. Wilson said. "For the 5- to 12-year-old, free play is essential for stimulating creativity."

Rest is the only cure

Repetitive-use injuries are more common than acute or traumatic injuries, but they are usually subtle and gradual, which makes them more difficult to diagnose for parents and pediatricians alike.

"The bottom line is that if a child begins complaining of soreness or sensitivity, especially in areas of the body they frequently use in their sport, they need to rest," Dr. Wilson said. "Some time away from that motion or sport will benefit them much more than continued, daily practice and play of the same sport."

Tags:

Sports Medicne Center, Injury, Sports, Athletes, Tennis Elbow, Jumper's Knee, Swimmer's Shoulder, Little League Elbow, Runner's Knee, Achilles Tendinitis, Shin Splints

Photo cutline:

When a child frequently repeats a motion without taking time off, a repetitive-use injury like Little League elbow is a common side effect.

Tags: Sports Medicne Center, Injury, Sports, Athletes, Tennis Elbow, Jumper's Knee, Swimmer's Shoulder, Little League Elbow, Runner's Knee, Achilles Tendinitis, Shin Splints