Approximately 70% of teenagers and children drop out of college organized sports Experts opine on the potential causes of early burnout by the age of 13.
This dropout statistic was revealed in a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report, “Overuse Injuries, Overtraining, and Burnout in Young Athletes,” published Jan. 22 in the journal Pediatrics.
With young athletes increasingly training year-round and joining multiple teams at the same time, pediatricians told Fox News Digital that cases of burnout and stress injuries are on the rise at a young age. he said.
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“Burnout is real and parents and coaches need to address it,” said Dr. James Bursi, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital on Long Island, New York, who is not concerned with the AAP report. Although there is no one, he said this. Fox News Digital.
The current quarterback of the high school football team, who also plays travel baseball on Long Island, N.Y., said he sees burnout occurring among his colleagues.
Around 70% of teenagers and children have dropped out of organized sports by the age of 13, a new report has found. (St. Petersburg)
”[There’s] There’s definitely a lot of pressure on kids these days because they’re trying to be the best athletes they can be, and it’s always on their shoulders to say, ‘I’m going to train harder and harder to be the best. ‘I have to,'” he said, adding the former player: His teammates told him, “You can’t do it anymore.”
The AAP report updates an earlier report released in 2007, which found that overscheduling and excessive levels of training can lead to burnout and contribute to high dropout rates in sports. He said that it has become.
This intense training can also affect the health of young athletes. feeling of happiness The report also points out the quality of life.
With young athletes increasingly joining multiple teams at once, pediatricians say they’re seeing an increase in cases of burnout and stress injuries. (St. Petersburg)
“Whether training is specialized or multi-sport, it becomes a problem when athletes have no free play time or opportunities to engage in activities outside of their sport,” said report co-author Andrew. Watson, MD, said: said in a news release.
“The old saying ‘no pain, no gain’ is not necessarily true.”
Experts agree that some stress can be productive, but too much stress can be a problem.
“Sports competition and training always involve some degree of stress, but when delivered in the right way, it can lead to adaptation, success and enjoyment,” Watson said.
“At that time stress becomes too much, which can lead to burnout. ”
A new AAP report found that overscheduling and excessive levels of training can lead to burnout, which in turn contributes to high dropout rates in youth sports. (St. Petersburg)
The AAP defines overtraining as “decreased performance due to an imbalance between training and recovery, often accompanied by persistent fatigue.” Sleeping disorder and mood changes. ”
Dr. Kristin Hopkins, director of the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at Stony Brook Medicine and team physician for Stony Brook University Athletics on Long Island, New York, who was not involved in the report, said: I commented.
She said that in today’s sports landscape, there is no “offseason” for kids who have a passion for one sport and a desire to play that sport in college as well. This can put young athletes at risk for burnout and injury.
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“Such continued play can put children’s joints at risk for so-called overuse injuries, something we haven’t seen as often before. Because then you move on to another sport and use another sport’s muscle groups,” Hopkins told FOX News Digital.
“Microtrauma” to bones and soft tissues
Overuse injuries typically occur when the body is exposed to repetitive stress without adequate recovery time, the AAP noted.
This can cause “cumulative microtrauma” to bones and soft tissues such as muscles and tendons.
The pain usually occurs after activity and then progresses to occur at rest, the report said.
A pediatric orthopedic surgeon in New York said he sees spinal stress fractures about 10 times a month.
children and youth Experts say they are at higher risk for this type of injury because their bones are still growing and cannot withstand the same stress as adult bones.
“I see stress fractures in the spine about 10 times a month,” Balsi, a pediatric surgeon, told Fox News Digital, calling overuse injuries in children an “epidemic.”
Doctors say it’s important for athletes to incorporate rest days and stretching into their training plans. (St. Petersburg)
Recovery from this type of injury usually requires rest, Barsi said. This is a difficult message to convey to teenagers who feel pressure to perform and maintain their positions on sports teams, she said.
“I always focus on the long-term outlook,” Balsi said. “It’s probably better for them to take a short break in the short term.”
He added: “If the injury progresses, it could cause long-term damage. In that case, he could end up missing not just a few weeks, but the entire season.”
“I tell parents and kids that if you’re playing the same sport more hours a week than your age, you’re playing that sport too much.”
Doctors say it’s important for athletes to incorporate rest days and stretching into their training plans.
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“These kids are often very tight at baseline. This is probably because they haven’t been stretching, they’re going through a little growth spurt, and they’re naturally tighter. It’s probably a combination of things,” Balsi said. “Strength makes you more susceptible to these injuries, so stretching can actually help prevent them.”
He also said athletes should listen to their bodies.
“Pain is their body’s way of telling them to relax,” he says. “The old saying ‘no pain, no gain’ is not necessarily true.”
A new report has found that intense training can affect young athletes’ sense of well-being and quality of life. (St. Petersburg)
Dr. Joel Brenner, one of the authors of the published report, said in a statement: “Sports are an extremely powerful way to keep young people physically and mentally active.” Although it’s fun and motivating, some youth may feel pressured by parents, coaches, etc. to judge success solely on performance. ”
Habits such as mindfulness and time away from sports may help prevent burnout and injury, he suggested.
To avoid burnout and overtraining, start at home, Hopkins said.
“I tell parents and kids that if you’re playing the same sport more hours a week than your age, you’re playing that sport too much.”
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Both experts recommend implementation weight training To help strengthen muscles.
Hopkins said young athletes need to work with experienced trainers who can monitor an athlete’s form to avoid injury.
Balsi noted that athletes need to “avoid lifting their egos” and gradually build up their weight resistance.
The AAP advised that if an athlete shows signs of overtraining or burnout, it is best to change the factors and consult a mental health professional if necessary. (St. Petersburg)
The AAP report includes specific recommendations for clinicians working with families to promote healthy participation in athletics.
Some suggestions include having athletes tested. Pre-participation test Pediatrician guidance promotes skill development and avoids overtraining and overscheduling.
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Other measures to prevent burnout and injury include encouraging exercise independence. Foster positive experiences with coaches, parents, and peers. Keep training interesting and fun by incorporating age-appropriate games and workouts.
If an athlete shows signs of overtraining or burnout, it is best to change the factors and consult a specialist. mental health professional AAP provided advice as needed.
Fox News Digital has reached out to AAP for additional comment.
For more health articles, visit: www.foxnews.com/health.
