Rec Sports
Experts warn of sports injuries in young athletes: Mom Squad
Experts said overuse injuries are on the rise as more and more young athletes hyper focus on one sport.
CLEVELAND — Every year, millions of children and teens across the United States lace up their cleats, grab their gear and hit the field as part of organized sports programs.
According to the National Safe Kids Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics, around 30 million young athletes participate in youth sports nationwide.
But with that enthusiasm comes a concerning trend: Injuries.
Recent statistics show that more than 3.5 million children under the age of 14 annually suffer injuries related to sports or recreation. Alarmingly, one in four of these injuries requires medical attention due to the severity.
Health professionals are now raising red flags about overuse injuries.
“The big two key factors were overuse injuries were greatly increased by early specialization because of the higher volume of very specific training in the same mode,” said Mike Fleming, Athletic trainer. “The second one would be the psychological impact—shorter careers, early burnout… walking away from the sport you hyper-focused on and not liking it anymore.”
These overuse injuries often affect knees, shoulders, elbows and ankles, particularly in children who dedicate themselves to a single sport year-round. Specialists say the constant repetition without sufficient rest or cross-training places intense strain on young bodies that are still developing.
The advice from trainers and pediatric experts? Diversify. Playing multiple sports throughout the year can reduce injury risks and help young athletes build a broader range of physical and mental skills.
“Versatility is the best ability,” Fleming added. “Training in different types of sports can really pay off in the long run.”