Evaluating the Impact of Youth Early Sport Specialization on Injury: An Evolution in Measurement.
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
To track youth sports participation and injury occurrence accurately and longitudinally.Results
An online survey tool that captures sports participation, frequency, level of competition, and tracks injury occurrence has been developed. The survey allows for longitudinal tracking of sports participation to evaluate the change from recreational to highly specialized sports participation. To maximize the utility of this research tool we identified swimmer plots which allow for clear visualization of the data as the best method for graphical representation.Implication
Longitudinal measurement of sports participation to evaluate the impact of early sports specialization on injury is feasible with this tool and enhanced by the swimmer plots for visualization.
SUBMITTER: Rockwood T
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10209588 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan-Dec
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Evaluating the Impact of Youth Early Sport Specialization on Injury: An Evolution in Measurement.
Rockwood Todd T Edwards Nicholas M NM Nelson Bradley B Agel Julie J
Health services research and managerial epidemiology 20230101
<h4>Objective</h4>To track youth sports participation and injury occurrence accurately and longitudinally.<h4>Results</h4>An online survey tool that captures sports participation, frequency, level of competition, and tracks injury occurrence has been developed. The survey allows for longitudinal tracking of sports participation to evaluate the change from recreational to highly specialized sports participation. To maximize the utility of this research tool we identified swimmer plots which allow ...[more]
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Project description:ContextYouth athletes may be at elevated risk for adverse health due to sport specialization. Sport organizations have developed guidelines for participation during growth and development.ObjectiveTo assess youth sport development guidelines using a 15-item framework across sport organizations and governing bodies in soccer, basketball, ice hockey, and swimming.Data sourcesEnglish-language results from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, from published sport organization guidelines and athlete development plans.Study selectionTwo investigators independently reviewed publications identified from sport organizations. A total of 23 guidelines were incorporated, including 5 general sport organizations and 18 sport-specific guidelines.Study designSystematic review.Level of evidenceLevel 4.Data extractionTwo investigators independently identified all recommendations that fit within a predetermined rubric of recommendations encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization. Sport-specific guidelines on volume were summarized.ResultsSport organizations and sport-specific guidelines had consensus on 2 items out of the 15-item: emphasis on early skill development and access to well-trained coaches. While recommended by all sports organization, multisport participation was emphasized by 3 of 4 sports, excluding soccer. Volume recommendations were inconsistent between and within sports. No group proposed methods to monitor athlete well-being.ConclusionThis review highlights areas of agreement within sport organizations and governing bodies. Creating a framework to guide youth sport specialization may lead to specific and consistent guidelines.
| S-EPMC8669930 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSignificant evidence has emerged that sport specialization is associated with an increased risk of overuse injury in youth athletes. Several recommendations exist to reduce the risk of overuse injury in youth sports, but the risk of overuse injuries may be dependent on specific movements required by a given sport.HypothesesAssociations between specialized sport participation and overuse injury will exist in volleyball athletes but not soccer or basketball athletes. Female athletes will be more likely to report an overuse injury in the previous year, regardless of sport.Study designCross-sectional study.Level of evidenceLevel 3.MethodsYouth athletes between the ages of 12 and 18 years were recruited in-person at club team tournaments, competitions, and events around the state of Wisconsin during the 2016-2017 school year. Participants were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire that consisted of (1) participant demographics, (2) sport specialization status, (3) monthly and weekly sport volume, and (4) sport-related injury history in the previous year.ResultsA total of 716 youth athletes completed the questionnaire (70.8% female; mean age, 14.21 ± 1.50 years; 43.2% basketball, 19.4% soccer, 37.4% volleyball; 41.8% highly specialized; 32.3% reported overuse injury in the previous year). Sex was associated with overuse injury among basketball athletes, with female basketball athletes nearly 4 times more likely to report an overuse injury compared with male basketball athletes (odds ratio, [OR], 3.7; 95% CI, 2.1-6.6; P < 0.001). High specialization (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.1-4.9; P = 0.02) and participating in a single sport for more than 8 months per year (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5; P < 0.05) were associated with overuse injury only among volleyball athletes.ConclusionSpecialization and exceeding 8 months per year in a single sport was associated with overuse injury in volleyball, which is one of the most popular youth sports for female athletes. Specialization was not associated with overuse injury in basketball or soccer athletes. Female basketball athletes were nearly 4 times more likely to report a history of overuse injury compared with male basketball athletes. The sex of a youth athlete and the sport that he or she plays may influence the risk of overuse injury associated with sport specialization.Clinical relevanceYouth athletes, parents, and clinicians should be aware that the potential risks of specialization might vary based on the athlete's sport and sex.
| S-EPMC6931179 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The concept of youth sport specialization has evolved over the past decade, from a focus on the risk of overuse injury to a broader awareness of its effects on mental health, social well-being, quality of life, growth and maturation, sport performance, and long-term athletic success. This review article considers a recently revised definition of youth sport specialization, as well as guidelines and consensus statements from various sports medicine organizations, with practical applications for young athletes.
| S-EPMC11299332 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ContextYouth sport specialization may place young athletes at increased risk for negative impacts to their physical and/or psychological health. In response to these health concerns, several health organizations have created guidelines and position statements to guide parents and practitioners toward best practices for management of the young athlete.ObjectiveTo systematically review and synthesize current organizations' recommendations and guidelines regarding youth sport specialization.Data sourcesEnglish-language articles from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2018, in the NCBI Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus databases.Study selectionArticles that reported on recommendations or interventions by health organizations or health representatives of sports organizations. A total of 56 articles were assessed, with 11 meeting inclusion eligibility criteria.Study designSystematic review.Level of evidenceLevel 4.Data extractionTwo investigators independently identified all recommendations within the results that fit within a 15-item framework encompassing 4 domains: Psychological Development/Approach, Physical Development/Load, Facilities and Resources, and Timing and Monitoring of Specialization.ResultsRecommendations across organizations were primarily clustered in the Physical Development/Load (43%), Facilities and Resources (48%), and Sport Specialization (55%) domains. In contrast, the Psychological Development/Approach domain had fewer recommendations (20%). The most common recommendations endorsed concepts: "Monitor athlete well-being," "Youth athletes need access to well-trained, quality coaches," "Multi-sport participation," "Limit early organized participation and/or training," and "Parents require awareness of training, coaching, and best practices." The level of evidence provided to support a given recommendation varied significantly. The level of detail and the consistency of terms used throughout the results were typically low. Recommendations were frequently made without reference to potential outcome measures or specific strategies that could be used for practical implementation in the community.ConclusionThere was broad representation of different aspects of specialization but limited consistency between health organization guidelines. Adopting a framework for recommendations as used in this review could assist organizations in structuring future recommendations that are specific, measurable, and framed in a manner that will promote action in the youth sport community.
| S-EPMC8669928 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC10530013 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe effect of socioeconomic status (SES) on rates of sports specialization and injury among youth athletes has not been described previously.HypothesisYoung athletes from lower socioeconomic status will have lower rates of sports specialization and subsequently lower risk of overuse injuries.Study designCohort study.Level of evidenceLevel 3.MethodsInjured athletes aged 7 to 18 years were recruited from 2 hospital-based sports medicine clinics and compared with uninjured athletes presenting for sports physicals at primary care clinics between 2010 and 2013. Participants completed surveys on training patterns. Electronic medical records provided injury details as well as patient zip code, race, and health insurance type. SES was estimated from zip codes. The sample was divided into SES tertiles. Analysis of variance and multivariate regression were used for continuous variables, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore relationships between risk factors and injury.ResultsOf 1190 athletes surveyed, 1139 (96%) had satisfactory SES data. Compared with low-SES athletes, high-SES athletes reported more hours per week spent playing organized sports (11.2 ± 6.0 vs 10.0 ± 6.5; P = 0.02), trained more months per year in their main sport (9.7 ± 3.1 vs 7.6 ± 3.7; P < 0.01), were more often highly specialized (38.9% vs 16.6%; P < 0.01), and had increased participation in individual sports (64.8% vs 40.0%; P < 0.01). The proportion of athletes with a greater than 2:1 ratio of weekly hours in organized sports to free play increased with SES. Accounting for age and weekly organized sports hours, the odds of reporting a serious overuse injury increased with SES (odds ratio, 1.5; P < 0.01).ConclusionHigh-SES athletes reported more serious overuse injuries than low-SES athletes, potentially due to higher rates of sports specialization, more hours per week playing organized sports, higher ratio of weekly hours in organized sports to free play, and greater participation in individual sports.Clinical relevanceAs SES increases, young athletes report higher degrees of sports specialization, greater participation in individual sports, and more serious overuse injuries.
| S-EPMC6044126 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Youth participation in organized sports in the United States is rising, with many athletes focusing on a single sport at an increasingly younger age.To retrospectively compare single-sport specialization in current high school (HS), collegiate, and professional athletes with regard to the rate and age of specialization, the number of months per year of single-sport training, and the athlete's perception of injury related to specialization.Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.A survey was distributed to HS, collegiate, and professional athletes prior to their yearly preparticipation physical examination. Athletes were asked whether they had chosen to specialize in only 1 sport, and data were then collected pertaining to this decision.A total of 3090 athletes completed the survey (503 HS, 856 collegiate, and 1731 professional athletes). A significantly greater percentage of current collegiate athletes specialized to play a single sport during their childhood/adolescence (45.2% of HS athletes, 67.7% of collegiate athletes, and 46.0% of professional athletes; P < .001). The age of single-sport specialization differed between groups and occurred at a mean age of 12.7 ± 2.4 (HS), 14.8 ± 2.5 (collegiate), and 14.1 ± 2.8 years (professional) (P < .001). Current HS (39.9%) and collegiate athletes (42.1%) recalled a statistically greater incidence of sport-related injury than current professional athletes (25.4%) (P < .001). The majority (61.7%) of professional athletes indicated that they believed specialization helps the athlete play at a higher level, compared with 79.7% of HS and 80.6% of collegiate athletes (P < .001). Notably, only 22.3% of professional athletes said they would want their own child to specialize to play only 1 sport during childhood/adolescence.This study provides a foundation for understanding current trends in single-sport specialization in all athletic levels. Current HS athletes specialized, on average, 2 years earlier than current collegiate and professional athletes surveyed. These data challenge the notion that success at an elite level requires athletes to specialize in 1 sport at a very young age.
| S-EPMC5536378 | biostudies-other
Project description:The methodological underpinnings of studies into early specialization have recently been critiqued. Previous researchers have commented on the variety of, and over-simplified, methods used to capture early specialization. This exploratory study, therefore, suggests a new direction for how early specialization can be conceptualized and measured. We aim to create an index approach whereby early specialization is measured as a continuous variable, in line with commonly used definitions. The continuous variable for degrees of early specialization is calculated from a questionnaire which captures the four key components of early specialization; (1) intensity, (2) year-round training, (3) single sport, and (4) commencing age 12 or younger. The proposed index approach is illustrated in a sample of 290 Swedish aesthetic performers aged 12-20 years (M = 15.88), whose descriptive statistics are used to discuss the suitability and usability of the measure. The proposed index approach functions as a guideline to future researchers. We hope that introducing a new index approach we will encourage further discussion around the measurement of early specialization. Additionally, we hope to pave the way for future research to explore more complex research questions.
| S-EPMC7265620 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSpecialization in young athletes has been linked to overuse injuries, burnout, and decreased satisfaction. Despite continued opposition from the medical community, epidemiological studies suggest the frequency is increasing.HypothesisExtrinsic pressures in addition to individual aspirations drive this national trend in sports specialization.Study designDescriptive epidemiology study.Level of evidenceLevel 3.MethodsA novel instrument assessing the driving factors behind youth specialization was generated by an interdisciplinary team of medical professionals. Surveys were administered to patients and athletes in the department's sports medicine clinic.ResultsThe survey was completed by 235 athletes between 7 and 18 years of age, with a mean age of 13.8 ± 3.0 years. Athletes specialized at a mean age of 8.1 years, and 31% of athletes played a single sport while 58% played multiple sports but had a preferred sport. More than 70% of athletes had collegiate or professional ambitions, and 60% played their primary sport for 9 or more months per year, with players who had an injury history more likely to play year-round ( P < 0.01). Approximately one-third of players reported being told by a coach not to participate in other sports, with specialized athletes reporting this significantly more often ( P = 0.04). Half of the athletes reported that sports interfered with their academic performance, with older players stating this more frequently ( P < 0.01).ConclusionYoung athletes are increasingly specializing in a single sport before starting high school. While intrinsic drive may identify healthy aspirations, extrinsic influences are prevalent in specialized athletes.Clinical relevanceExtrinsic factors contributing to youth specialization were identified and compounded the deleterious sequelae of youth athlete specialization.
| S-EPMC5665117 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The present study examined the influence of the specialization onset on the magnitude and patterns of changes in basketball-specific physical fitness within a competitive season and developmental fitness trends between 11 and 17 years in young basketball players. Repeated measures of 181 young basketball players (female, n = 40; male, n = 141) were examined. Anthropometry, age, estimated maturity status, and basketball-specific physical fitness (assessed with the countermovement jump, line drill, and yo-yo intermittent recovery level-1 and fitness score) were considered. Players were grouped by the onset of specialization as related to biological maturation milestones (pre-puberty, mid-puberty, and late-puberty specialization). The within-season and developmental changes in physical fitness were fitted using multilevel modeling in a fully Bayesian framework. The fitness outcomes were similar between-player and within-player changes when grouped by specialization across a season. Fitness improvements across a season were apparent for female players, while male players maintained their performance levels. There was no variation in the patterns of physical fitness development between 11 and 17 years associated with the onset of specialization. Conditional on our data and models, the assumption that early sport specialization provides a physical fitness advantage for future athletic success does not hold.
| S-EPMC9872025 | biostudies-literature