Aloha,
Physical wear and tear is part of life. More so as we age.
However, middle school and high school athletes are susceptible to wear and tear and the number of injuries is skyrocketing!
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, overuse injuries account for nearly half of all sports injuries in middle and high school students.
The National Athletic Trainers’ Association reports that approximately 3.5 million children under the age of 14 receive medical treatment for sports-related injuries each year.
The most common types of injuries in young athletes include sprains, strains, fractures, and repetitive motion injuries like tendonitis.
Sports with higher rates of injuries in young athletes include football, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and track and field.
Sports doctors have said Tommy John surgery has become an epidemic among high school pitchers. A 2015 study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found athletes between the ages of 15 to 19 accounted for 56.8% of all Tommy John procedures.
Studies have shown that implementing injury prevention programs can reduce the risk of sports-related injuries in young athletes by up to 50%.
IMO, overtraining is a key component for injuries. Without proper recovery biomechanics become compromised.
Other factors include:
- stress
- lack of quality sleep
- nutrient dense foods
- too much specialization leads to muscle and joint imbalances
With aloha,
Coach Michael