The Inherent Risk of Sport Specialization
April 30, 2018
By Bob Gardner
Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations
One of the responsibilities that parents take most seriously is protecting their children from injury, whether it is buckling seat belts in a car or wearing a helmet while riding a bike. And when their kids become teenagers and want to participate in sports or other activities, parents do everything they can to keep their sons and daughters from getting hurt.
But not all injuries are caused by a twist, fall, collision or accident. Many are caused when young athletes repeat the same athletic activity so often that muscles, ligaments, tendons and bones don’t have time to recover—especially among middle school and high school students. These injuries can end promising careers, cost families tens of thousands of dollars, squash dreams and literally change lives.
Examples include elbow and arm injuries to teenagers who play baseball or softball all year long, shoulder injuries to year-round swimmers, wrist and elbow injuries to gymnasts, and stress fractures to soccer players.
The culprit, most often, is what’s commonly known as “sport specialization,” the process of playing the same sport all year long with the goal of either gaining a competitive edge or earning a college scholarship. It involves intense, year-round training in a single sport.
Research shows that sports specialization is putting teenage athletes at risk. According to a study commissioned by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and conducted by researchers from the University of Wisconsin, high school athletes who specialize in a single sport are 70 percent more likely to suffer an injury during their playing season than those who play multiple sports.
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says much the same. It reports that “overuse injuries” (injuries caused when an athletic activity is repeated so often that parts of the body do not have enough time to heal) are responsible for nearly half of all sports injuries to middle school and high school students.
There is a solution. Young athletes should be encouraged to play multiple sports.
When student-athletes cross-train, they work different muscle groups and joints which, in fact, results in better overall conditioning. They also develop a new set of athletic skills like hand-eye coordination, balance, endurance, explosion and agility that are transferable to their primary sport. It’s no coincidence that 30 of the 32 first-round picks in the 2017 National Football League draft played multiple sports in high school.
Parents can play a key role in preventing these overuse injuries by encouraging their kids to play multiple sports rather than pushing them to specialize in one sport. They will have more fun, will be less likely to suffer burnout and will actually become better athletes.
Adjust Your Workout When Gym Isn't Option
April 6, 2020
Henry Ford Health System
Feeling at a loss about not being able to stick to your normal workout routine? You’re not alone.
Social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in people all over the world having to adjust their schedules to accommodate working from home, schooling and caring for kids, and finding ways to maintain as much of a “normal” schedule as possible.
As a result, many people are struggling to figure out how to get a good workout in without the help of gym equipment or a personal trainer.
“Anxiety over the current situation can add to a lack of motivation to work out,” says Brianna Gauna, an athletic trainer for Henry Ford Health System. “But just remember how beneficial it is to move your body, even if it is just around the house.”
How a Routine Change Affects Your Body
If you are used to working out every day or going hard at the gym on a regular basis, a short rest period from your routine might have its advantages.
“Taking time to rest can actually be a really good thing because it allows your body to recover,” says Gauna. “You might even start to see more muscle tone set in as you give your body a break.”
On the other hand, if you usually work out a few times throughout the week and suddenly stop, the results may cause negative effects. You may experience:
- Increased resting heart rate
- Less energy
- Change in mood or emotions
- Loss of sleep
How to Work Out at Home
Being stuck at home is not an excuse to skip a daily workout. Everyone works out a little differently, and there are plenty of options for you to stay active and try out new forms of exercise.
“Whether you are used to strength training or cardio, think about what your fitness goals are and choose activities based on what you’d like to achieve,” says Gauna.
Here are some ideas to keep you and your family active:
1. Yoga. Practicing yoga requires a great deal of muscle strength and balance. It is best for a full body workout. Look to YouTube or free apps on your phone for beginner workout videos that you can follow along.
2. HIIT workouts. These workouts are best for getting your heart pumping and increasing your stamina. Try choosing four exercises from the following list. (Search YouTube or Google for examples if you are not sure what each of these entails.) Do one exercise at a time for 30 seconds and then give yourself 20 seconds of rest before moving on to the next exercise. After you get through one rotation of those exercises, repeat three more times.
- Squats
- Push-ups
- Lunges
- Burpees
- Mountain climbers
- Glute bridges
3. Running or walking. Many apps allow you to track your run on a map, so you can plan out your route in your own neighborhood. This allows you to adjust how far you run or how much time you have for a run. A brisk walk through the neighborhood also works.
4. Biking. Biking is a great low-impact workout that works to engage and tone leg muscles. (Remember to wear a helmet!)
5. Team sports. If you are looking for something to engage you and your family, team sports are the way to go. Kick a soccer ball around, try to race through an obstacle course while dribbling a basketball or take turns throwing a football. If you don’t have the equipment, try playing keep-away with a stuffed animal or set up a relay race.
Exercise by Age and Fitness Level
The younger you are, chances are you have a faster metabolism. If you can’t get to a gym, think about how active you usually are and gauge the length of your workout from there.
If you are using this time to get started on your fitness journey, use these recommendations as a starting point:
Ages 7-17: 1-2 hours. Athletes that are used to going to weekly practices may find that two-hour workouts are more suitable.
Ages 18-30: About an hour. Look for times throughout the day that you can squeeze in workouts. Maybe you do yoga in the morning, a HIIT workout in the afternoon and a walk after dinner.
Ages 31-49: About a half hour. If you have children or a pet, you may find that you are already spending more time being active than this!
Ages 50 and up: At least 10-15 minutes. Gauge this based on your own abilities. You may live a more active lifestyle that allows you to be very active throughout the day. If you find yourself struggling to meet this mark, consider a walk during the day or stretches in the morning.
Once you get a regular fitness routine in place, work your way up to longer or more intense workouts to keep yourself challenged.
Making Your Own Equipment
If you have a treadmill, stationary bike or elliptical machine at home, now is the time to clear off the laundry it may have been collecting. If you don’t have access to weights or other gym equipment, though, that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a quality workout. Look for things around your house that you can use in their place – get creative!
- Bags of beans, rice or pet food as added weight for squats or lunges
- Old books/textbooks as dumbbells
- A chair for triceps dips, calf raises or for stability during yoga
- Stairs to run sprints or to help you stretch out leg muscles
When your day-to-day routine is shaken up, do what you can to create normalcy in your life. If you find you have more free time throughout the day, take that time to get moving – even if it’s running up and down the stairs or going for a walk around the block.
“Don’t worry about feeling silly for switching up your routine,” adds Gauna. “Whether that’s using a random object for added weight during a workout or trying to remember how to ride a bike again on your street, think about yourself and your fitness goals first. Don’t let thoughts of what other people think of you get in the way of you reaching your goals!”
Want to learn more? Henry Ford Health System sports medicine experts are treating the whole athlete, in a whole new way. From nutrition to neurology, and from injury prevention to treatment of sports-related conditions, they can give your athlete a unique game plan.
Visit henryford.com/sports or call (313) 972-4216 for an appointment within 24 business hours.
PHOTOS: (Clockwise from left) MHSAA Student Advisory Council members Abigail Pheiffer of Novi, Lydia Davenport of Ithaca and Trevin Phillips of Caro will be working to stay in shape while staying home these next many weeks.