Student Athletes Who Specialize Early Are Injured More Often
The pressure to specialize in a single sport and play it year round comes with pros and cons. One major pro is that by focusing on one sport, teens can become more competitive in that particular sport allowing them to make certain teams, attract the attention of college recruiters and obtain scholarships.
But there is also a major con to this set-up, which is an increase of overuse injuries, overtraining and burnout, according to the AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics).
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If you have any concerns about overuse injuries or questions about the amount of time you are putting into a particular sport in terms of your physical well-being, please schedule an appointment with your primary care physician or an adolescent medicine specialist.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist or contact your local teen health center. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.
