Dangers of Sports Specializations
Sports specialization is practicing the same sport year-round to achieve a competitive goal or earn a scholarship. Sports specialization increases the wear and tear of a specific muscle, ligament and skeletal group and can lead to serious injuries down the road. This is known as Sports Specialization Injuries, or SSI. Studies have shown students who play the same sport repeatedly are more likely to obtain an injury during their playing season versus students who practice multiple sports year-round.
Sports specialization is practicing the same sport year-round to achieve a competitive goal or earn a scholarship. Sports specialization increases the wear and tear of a specific muscle, ligament and skeletal group and can lead to serious injuries down the road. This is known as Sports Specialization Injuries, or SSI. Studies have shown students who play the same sport repeatedly are more likely to obtain an injury during their playing season versus students who practice multiple sports year-round.
Chiropractic Helps Prevent Sports Injuries
A chiropractor assists young athletes by providing alignment to the spine and extremities (including arms and legs), and completes body mechanic evaluations including gait analysis to help assess muscular patterns and development. By continually keeping an athlete’s body in his or her healthiest form, he or she will train more efficiently and effectively year-round.
A misaligned spine can interfere with the functions of all other systems, causing athletic performance to suffer. Regular adjustments keep the spine working smoothly, which in turn boosts the body’s overall performance. In one study, athletes showed a 6.12 percent performance increase after receiving chiropractic treatment. Another…
Where to Participate in Youth Sports
Grand Rapids Area
Grand Rapids Basketball Instructional Program
Grand Rapids Youth Sports Programs
Grand Rapids Youth Sports Programs
Grand Rapids Youth Sports Programs
Grand Rapids Youth Sports Camps
Grand Rapids Youth Football Camp
Holland Area
Holland Public Schools Sports Camps
Holland Christian Summer 2023 Sports Camps
City of Holland Junior Adventure Day Camp
Muskegon Area
Greater Lansing Area
The Sparrow Michigan Athletic Club
Soccer Kickers Summer Skills Camp
YMCA of Lansing Adventure Day Camps
Basketball Camps Lansing / State Wide
Challenger Sports Soccer Camps
Michigan State Summer Sports Camps
Tigers Youth Sports Baseball and Softball (statewide)
Jackson Area
Summer 2023 Volleyball Camp Flier
2023 Youth Tennis Lessons Registration Flier
Summer 2023 Youth Soccer Camp Flier
2023 NACOYA WEATHERSPOON GIRLS BASKETBALL CAMP Flier
2023 JEREMY PATTERSON BASKETBALL CAMP FLIER
2023 Track N Field Registration Form
Summer 2023 Pickleball Camp Registration Flier
Metro Detroit
Top Sports Camps Metro Detroit
Kids Out and About Sports Camps List
Nike Basketball Camp University of Michigan Dearborn
Basketball Camp Whitmore Lake High School
Tigers Youth Sports Baseball and Softball (statewide)
Wayne-Westland Community Schools
Basketball: 4 years +
Dance: 3 years +
Football: 5 years +
Berkley Steelers Youth Football
Southeast Michigan Youth Football
Gymnastics: 15 months +
Hockey + Figure Skating: 5 years +
Martial Arts: 4 years +
Belleville Martial Arts Institute
Stars & Stripes Activity Center
Soccer: 18 months +
Swimming: 4 months +
Junior Tennis: 4 years +
Livonia:
Monroe
Tips to Healthy Sport Parenting
- Avoid over training
- The amount of time your child should be practicing organized sports per week should be less than their age
- Encourage more free time with friends and less scheduled time with organized teams
- Be cautious with paid individual coaching and training until children are older
- Discuss with your child’s pediatrician prior to making decisions with organized sports, as every child develops differently
- Make sure your children have an off season to allow them to rest physically as well as psychologically
- If children specialize in sports they should not begin until they are at least 14-15 years old, or until child is through puberty
The Importance of Playing Multiple Sports
MSU researchers found kids who play multiple sports perform better and are happier. This leads to living a healthy adult life.
Public Education Partners
Public Education Videos
Michigan Kids Play Multiple Sports!
Start planing for the 2024 Michigan Games. It’s a multi-sport Olympic style event. Find out why 44% of Michigan youth athletes participate in multiple sports!
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Resources
The Michigan High School Athletic Association. (2018). Second Half | Stories Behind the Scores: The Inherent Risk of Sport Specialization.
Retrieved from https://secondhalf.mhsaa.com/All-News/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/7207/The-Inherent-Risk-of-Sport-Specialization
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Injury Research and Prevention. (2018). How Parents Can Help Young Athletes Avoid Overuse Injuries in School Sports.
Retrieved from https://injury.research.chop.edu/blog/posts/how-parents-can-help-young-athletes-avoid-overuse-injuries-school-sports#.XKTviOtKjUI
National Athletic Association: At Your Own Risk. (2019). Information for Parents. Retrieved from https://www.atyourownrisk.org/parents/
National University of Health Sciences. (2018). 4 Ways Chiropractic Medicine Can Provide Lasting Benefits for Young Athletes.
Retrieved from https://blog.nuhs.edu/the-future-of-integrative-health/4-ways-chiropractic-medicine-can-provide-lasting-benefits-for-young-athletes