One Sport is not enough!
One Sport is not enough!
Nicholas Matthes PT, DPT, CSCS
Does your child play one sport year round? If yes, STOP! It turns out specializing in one sport at a young age is not good for the safety or athletic career of your child.
A recent Sports Medicine article was able to draw a significant association between early sports specialization and incidence of overuse injuries in adolescent athletes (ages 12-18). David Bell, PhD confirmed a previous study that indicated there was a connection between adolescent athletes that specialized in one sport and injury rate. These athletes are specializing at a younger age and experience higher training volumes (Jacqueline Pasulka, DO), which is something their bodies can’t handle yet.
How much is too much?
- Expert guidelines suggest that adolescent athletes that compete in “their sport” more than 8 months out of the year and more hours a week than their age (ex. more than 10 hours a week for a 10 year old) were at greater risk of injury.
Does specializing in one sport advance your child’s athletic career?
- Studies show that “a relatively low proportion of young athletes who specialized in a single sport become international (professional) level athletes,” (Dai Sugumoto).
It is encouraged for young athletes to participate in several different sports to develop the motor control required to complete different movement patterns and reduce risk of overuse injuries.
To find out more information about how Young Athletes should train, come to our FREE lecture on “Modern Day Cross Training to Improve the Young Athlete,” Monday May 8th, 6:30 pm. This FREE information will give you exactly what you need to help your athlete excel and be safe!
If you have any questions or would like more information, please call Professional Physical Therapy and Training at 973-270-7417. Our offices are located within the YMCA locations in Madison and Summit, NJ. You do not need to be a member of the YMCA to visit with us