YOUTH SPORTS
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.
Where to Participate in Youth Sports
Public Education Partners
Impacts 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 (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.
The Importance of Playing Multiple Sports
Cross-Training Gives Youth Athletes the “Athletic Edge”
Let Michigan Kids Play!
MSU researchers found kids who play multiple sports perform better and are happier. This leads to living a healthy adult life.
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.
Michigan Parkour Boost Sports Health
Public Education Videos
Michigan Kids Play Multiple Sports!
Start planning 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!
Michigan, Girls On The Run
Thousands of Michigan girls are participating in Girls On The Run in record numbers. Learn more about the positive mind and body benefits of participating in group physical activities.
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