Picture this: A few years from now, you're watching your child's high school soccer game, when suddenly, they fall down with an injury. After being evaluated, you find out they've torn their ACL. You're filled with emotions of sympathy, distraught, and maybe even some anger. You think to yourself, "What could've prevented this?"
Unfortunately, more and more parents are going through that same scenario with their kids, even at much younger ages. The good news is, studies are showing very positive results from injury prevention programs designed for youth sports.
Introduction
Today, injuries are becoming all-too common among youth athletes. With roughly 45 million participants in some form of organized sport, this problem requires a call to action. Luckily, research has found multiple strategies for addressing this issue. With the right instruction and guidance, athletes can benefit greatly from injury prevention programs.
Injury prevention programs are often perceived as complicated and time consuming, and while this may be true for upper-level sports, like the college and professional level, research supports that this is not true for youth sports.
Multiple Approaches
There are many different approaches to designing an injury prevention program, and the target age group is one of the most important factors. Research shows that a successful program is one that is designed specifically for the age group, as well as most practical for the timeframe.
Research-Backed Evidence
Because studies have proven these multiple points, it's important to understand them and incorporate the information into a prevention program. The most important points are as follows:
- Children who suffer injuries at the youth level are much more likely to develop conditions like osteoarthritis at a much younger age (this creates the need for prevention programs)
- Simple programs are more effective than long, extensive ones and can be adapted to fit schedules
- Levels of aerobic fitness can predict likelihood of injuries
- Education of injuries and how to prevent them is key
Sample Programs and Implementation
Many school curriculums include physical education as a class that every student takes. This offers a great opportunity for implementing an injury prevention program. For example, at the start of class, 15 minutes of neuromuscular training, which could include exercises like simple resistance training, balance work, or core training, is a great example. It's an effective program, as shown by research, and it doesn't take much time away from the rest of the PE class.
Another example to fit into a PE class could be structuring it around aerobic activities. Walking, running, and climbing are all examples of aerobic activity, and could be incorporated into a physical education class in a variety of ways.
Because injury education is another key aspect of injury prevention, this should be included in a program as well. This may be more difficult to incorporate into a class during the school day, so a possible alternative could be taking time before or during a practice to discuss. Teaching proper jumping and landing skills, proper cutting movements, as well as learning to fall properly, are just a few examples of what could be included in the education piece. What's important here is that coaches, players, and parents all receive the same information, that way everyone is on the same page and there is minimal confusion.
Summary
Because injuries are becoming more and more common and they put children at greater risk for complications later in life, there is a growing demand for injury prevention programs. With a great deal of research supporting them, prevention programs should be implemented across all youth sports. They help reduce the risk of injury for the athletes, as well as prepare them for preventing future injuries through education. These programs shouldn't be complicated and are easy to adjust and customize to fit the target audience, that way they are as beneficial as possible.
Resources
For a more in-depth look at a sample injury prevention program, the link below discusses the benefits of a 4-week program designed for youth athletes and how it can be implemented.
For those interested in long-term athlete development, the following article discusses how a strength and conditioning program can benefit long-term development. It also answers many common questions you may have concerning a program like this.
About the Author:
Garrett Sicard is a senior at Westfield State University, majoring in Movement Science with a concentration in Sports Medicine. He is a member of the Health Professions Club, as well as a member of the men's club lacrosse team. Upon graduation, he plans to attend graduate school to pursue a degree and licensure in physical therapy. Garrett can be reached at gsicard10@gmail.com.
References
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Clark, E. M., Tobias, J. H., Murray,
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Faigenbaum, A. D., Farrell, A.,
Fabiano, M., Radler, T., Naclerio, F., Ratamess, N. A., Kang, J., & Myer,
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Hartwig, T. B., Gabbett, T. J.,
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Watson A., Brickson S., Brooks M. A.,
& Dunn W. (2017). Preseason Aerobic Fitness Predicts In-Season Injury and
Illness in Female Youth Athletes. Orthop J Sports Med, 5(9). Doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967117726976
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