Injuries Strike Out Young Athletes

Anand Kapur, MD, family physician and director of sports medicine at InMotion Physical Therapy at Harbour View, said he sees young athletes with overuse injuries from little-leaguer’s elbow to rotator cuff injuries for swimmers. “Most parents played different sports in the fall and spring when they were young,” said Dr. Kapur. “Now, kids are specializing at a young age, and the year-round commitment causes them injuries you didn’t normally see.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Sports Medicine and Fitness recommends limiting practice of a single sport to five or fewer days per week, with at least one day off from any organized physical activity each week. Diversifying kids’ activities is beneficial for their performance, as well as their safety.

When kids are given a chance to rest some muscles and exercise new ones in another sport, they become well-rounded athletes and improve their performance overall.