SPECIALIZATION IN YOUNG ATHLETES CAN LEAD TO OVERUSE INJURIES

According to Robert Weil, DPM, “Today’s epidemic of overuse injuries due to specialization affects both lower and upper extremities, across the board, in all sports at all ages. As the world of youth sports has grown dramatically, so have these injury problems. Overuse injuries cause a significant loss of time off the field, but more importantly, they threaten future sport participation which could inadvertently lead to increased obesity. These young athletes are at increased risk because growing bones are less resilient to stress and children’s awareness of symptoms as signs of injury are limited.”

 

Dr. Robert Weil

 

“If specialization is the decision, then it is important to include off-sport conditioning that helps to develop the overall athlete and strengthen against these repetitive motion injuries. Concentrate on what Bob Gajda, famous sports therapist, called ‘strengthening the opposites and stabilizers.’ In other words, condition the muscles and tendons that help work against those repetitive motions. Athletic trainers, physical therapists, and personal trainers can help devise these programs. This kind of training is also helpful for multiple sport athletes.”

Courtesy of Barry Block, editor of PM News