@article{ref1,
title="Risks of intense, specialized training and growth for injury in young athletes: a clinical evaluation",
journal="British journal of sports medicine",
year="2014",
author="Jayanthi, N. and Dugas, L. and Fischer, D. and Pasulka, J. and Labella, C.",
volume="48",
number="7",
pages="611-611",
abstract="BACKGROUND: There is little data evaluating the risk for serious overuse injury in young athletes focusing on a single-sport or during growth spurts, in a clinical-based population. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sports specialization, weekly training volumes, and growth rates are associated with increased risk for injury and serious overuse injury in young athletes. DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Injured young athletes ages (7-18yr) were recruited from sports medicine clinics and compared to healthy controls from primary care clinics presenting for sports physicals in 2 medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: There were 1206 participants (50.7% male) who were evaluated at baseline while longitudinal follow up data collection for up to 3 years is ongoing at time of submission. RISK FACTOR ASSESSMENT: Independent variables included hours/week of organized sports, free play, gym, sports specialization, and growth rate. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Dependent variables included total injuries, acute injuries, overuse injuries, and serious overuse injuries. RESULTS: Injured athletes were older than uninjured athletes (14.1 +/-2.1 vs. 12.9 y/o +/-2.6, P<.001) and reported a higher avg. hrs/wk playing organized sports (11.3+/-6.9 vs. 9.4 +/-8.2 hr, P<.001). Picking a main sport to focus on one sport was an independent risk factor for injury even after adjusting for hrs/week in total sports activity and age (OR 1.48 P<.05). Young athletes participating in more sports hrs/wk than their age (P<.05) and participating in>2 times organized sports:free play were more likely to have a serious overuse injury (P=.001). Annual calculated growth rates did not impact injury status (4.76 vs 4.79 cm/yr,injured vs. uninjured respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Injured young athletes are older, spend more time in organized sports, and specialize. Our data support the need for counseling young specialized athletes as to the risks for overuse injury.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0306-3674",
doi="10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.139",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2014-093494.139"
}