Alanna Waters Comments on The Dangers of Excessive Practice For Young Athletes

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 27, 2013

Alanna Waters, who is a former player and current lacrosse coach, is speaking out on a new article that discusses the problems that can take place when a young and undeveloped athlete spends too much time practicing and competing. New research found that athletes who train too hard before their bodies have fully developed can become susceptible to a lifetime of aches, pains, and injuries.

A study from the Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago found that young athletes who specialize and train intensively in one sport have a higher risk of developing overuse injuries. Kids who spent more hours per week than their age playing one sport were 70 percent more likely to experience injuries to the shoulder, elbow, and back. This means that an 11-year-old should not spend more than 11 hours per week practicing.

Alanna Waters comments on these findings noting, "While many children love sports and enjoy going to practice and games, parents and coaches must remain focused on keeping these boys and girls safe. Young bodies can't take as much strain and stress as more developed bodies, so overpractice is a real concern. Even if the child is having fun doing so, it's important to put limits on the amount of time children can spend playing sports each week."

Dr. Neeru Jayanthi, a Loyola sports medicine physician, states, "We should be cautious about intense specialization in one sport before and during adolescence. Young athletes should not spend more hours per week in organized sports than their ages." Dr. Jayanthi presented his findings at the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) meeting that took place in San Diego.

Between the years of 2010 and 2013, Dr. Jayanthi and his colleagues took a look at 1,206 athletes between the ages of 8 and 18 who had experienced treatment for injuries. In total, they looked at 859 injuries, 564 of which came from overuse. In the more severe cases, Dr. Jayanthi and his team saw fractures in the back or limbs, as well as elbow ligament injuries and damage to cartilage and bone.

Dan Gould, who serves as the director of the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports at Michigan State University, reflects on the findings stating, "It's not bad for a kid to start a recreational sport at four, but specializing? We are seeing more Little League pitching elbow from repeated exposure." This condition is a fairly common one among young pitchers who are trying to throw faster and are distorting their arm muscles and joints in the process. Gould goes on to note, "It's getting crazy too soon--maybe there's a race to get athletic scholarships, but there's a lot of pressure on kids to do year-round sports."

Alanna Waters comments on this issue explaining, "Athletics can provide a number of benefits to kids, but it's important that parents don't let eager young athletes push themselves too hard too soon."

ABOUT:

Alanna Waters serves as the head girls' varsity coach at Metro Lacrosse. The position is a rewarding one, as Alanna gets to help urban youth learn lacrosse skills and develop a passion for the game. She also helps these kids learn important life lessons. Alanna is a seasoned player in her own right, competing during high school and college.