As more and more children are participating in year-round youth sports leagues, the the rise in single-sport athlete injury has become alarming. What’s more, because many of these kids are not only competing all year but also competing on multiple teams simultaneously the issue becomes even more compounded. The result? Over-training, which leads to burnout, which leads to detrimental physical effects on developing bodies, which can affect lifelong health. Unfortunately, experts discovered one contributing factor may be parental pressure to compete and succeed. According to a consensus by the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) the emphasis on competitive success is widespread throughout the United States. Furthermore, a study from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health concluded that High School athletes that specialize in one sport, sustain lower-body injuries at much higher rates than athletes who compete in multiple sports.
Here Are the Details
The University of Wisconsin study was funded by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Foundation.
Over 1500 students were tracked.
29 different high schools across Wisconsin participated during the 2015-16 school year.
Athletic Trainers were asked to record injuries in real time, as they happened, whether during competition or while practicing.
In total, around 235 athletes sustained injuries that kept them out of action for at least a week.
Of those injuries, athletes who specialized in one sport were twice as likely to report sustaining a lower-body injury ( 46 percent compared to 24 percent).
Additionally, specialized athletes sustained NEW lower extremity injury a whole whopping 60 percent more than athletes that did not specialize.
What’s more, roughly 50 percent of the student-athletes who specialize in a sport also compete on a club team in that sport, and around 15 percent do it simultaneously.
What Can We Do?
While it has been long suspected in the medical and healthcare community that sport-specialization in youth athletes leads to an increased risk of overuse injury, the University of Wisconsin study confirms this. So now that we are armed with this knowledge what can we do? Coaches, parents, athletes, trainers, and physical therapists all need to work together.
While it may seem like the right path for children to specialize in hopes of college or professional level competition, it may be time to throw conventional wisdom out the door. Here’s why. We must also understand that rest, recuperation, in addition to physical therapy will not only make these athletes stronger but reduce the risk of injury, thus allowing them to play their best. It is switching the mindset and caring for the athlete in a holistic manner that will encourage better success, and life-long health.
How We Can Help
Here at Kinetic Physical Therapy, we see first-hand the rise in single-sport athlete injury. Our physical therapists have extensive knowledge not only helping athletes recover from an injury but help them to become stronger so they don’t get injured again! We believe in the continuity of care and quality care begins the time the patient calls to schedule an appointment. Kinetic Physical Therapy was founded on the philosophy of treating each patient like a person, not a product. Patients are evaluated and treated by the same therapist for the entire length of their rehab. Contact us today for an evaluation and experience the Kinetic PT difference.
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