Developing Physically Active and Sporty Kids - Overuse Injuries and Burnout

Original Editor - Jess Bell based on the course by Tracy Prowse
Top Contributors - Jess Bell, Kim Jackson and Naomi O'Reilly
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Introduction[edit | edit source]

A large number of children participate in organised sports every year. In the US alone, more than 46.5 million children play sports.[1] While the benefits of physical activity are clear,[2] involvement in organised sport can also lead to injuries and burnout. There were, for instance, 1.2 million injuries recorded for high school athletes in the US in 2015 to 2-16.[3]

Each year, more than 10 percent of children aged under 14 are treated for sports injuries in the US. Half of all sports injuries in children aged over 10 years are overuse injuries.[4][5]

However, despite these high rates, 70 percent of children who participate in sports will actually drop out by the age of 13.[6] The reasons for this are explored in here, but they may be due in part to the influence of pushy parents and coaches.[5]

  1. ↑ Safe Kids Worldwide. Preventing sports-related injuries. Available from: https://www.safekids.org/preventing-sports-related-injuries (accessed 7 November 2021).
  2. ↑ Janssen I, LeBlanc AG. Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2010;7(40).
  3. ↑ Welton KL, Kraeutler MJ, Pierpoint LA, Bartley JH, McCarty EC, Comstock RD. Injury recurrence among high school athletes in the United States: a decade of patterns and trends, 2005-2006 through 2015-2016. Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(1):2325967117745788.
  4. ↑ American Academy of Pediatrics. Preventing overuse injuries in young athletes. Available from: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/sports-injuries/Pages/Preventing-Overuse-Injuries.aspx (accessed 7 November 2021).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Prowse T. Developing Physically Active and Sporty Kids - Overuse Injuries and Burnout Course. Physioplus, 2021.
  6. ↑ Gadient W, Hawili R, Strand B. Athlete drop outs, sport specialization, and sport diversification: an argument for late specialization in youth sport. 2020.
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