Overuse injuries: Youth specialization in sports

In a world where sports is a multibillion dollar industry, and youth athletes grow up idolizing different superstars and set out to be just like them, parents and coaches are forcing children to specialize in one sport much earlier than recommended, all in an effort to gain college scholarships or as a means to make it to be a professional athlete.  Youth athletes are now feeling as though if they do not practice the same sport every day, that their competition is getting better than them, and for competitive athletes this is not something that sits well with them.

Unfortunately, specializing in one sport before an athlete is completely physically mature can cause problems.  Overuse injuries in youth athletes is on the rise simple because youth athletes are putting the repetitive stress of a professional athlete on their underdeveloped bodies.  Most overuse injuries in youth athletes come from early specialization, incorrect form, lack of proper conditioning, insufficient or no rest and nutritional deficiencies. This is the reason more and more youth athletes are complaining of tendonitis, stress fractures, bursitis, chronic muscle strains and joint sprains among other overuse injuries.

A more important injury that can occur in youth athletes who specialize too early and practice consistently without enough rest, is an injury to a growth plate.  Injuries to growth plates are serious because they can lead to limb length discrepancies (one leg or arm is longer than the other) or a bone that no longer grows evenly after the growth plate has been fractured or otherwise injured and therefore becomes crooked.

Until youth athletes have gone through puberty, when their growth plates have been replaced with solid bone, they should not be encouraged to participate in one sport all year, instead rest or participate in another sport that does not put as much primary stress on the same muscles and joints.  In addition to delaying specialization, youth athletes should participate in an appropriate strength and conditioning program (using body weight until after puberty), they should be educated on the importance of resting and taking care of their bodies especially if injured, they should have pre-participation physicals done before they begin physical activity, and eat a well-balanced, healthy diet.

Aaron Armstrong, MPE, ATC

Athletic Trainer

Elite Sports Medicine Clinic at the Sports, Spine and Rehabilitation Centre
esmbahamas@gmail.com

^{Aaron Armstrong holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA in Athletic Training and has been a Board Certified Athletic Trainer since 2012.  He also earned a Master of Physical Education degree in Athletic Administration from Idaho State University in Pocatello, ID.}

Our certified sports medicine team can help prevent and treat injuries to keep you performing at your best.