Perils of Athletic Training & Sports Achievement at a Young Age
In, “The Pain Relief Secrets: How to Retrain Your Nervous System, Heal Your Body, and Overcome Chronic Pain” the author Sarah Warren writes,
“Those who start their athletic training at a young age may be at increased risk of developing overuse injuries because their musculoskeletal system is not fully developed… Many of these injuries will stay with them for their entire lives…”
Sarah Warren.
The author further states that kids’ muscles or connective tissues may not be strong enough to support their fast-growing bones.
So next time you push your child to pursue competitive sports training at a young age, remember this – their achievement is at the cost of their long-term health. It’s fine to have a dream or ambition, but know what you are getting into and its consequences before pushing it too hard. Especially if you are dreaming for others.
“Another part of the problem is that they specialize in one sport far too early. Children
Sarah Warren
who play two or three sports suffer fewer injuries… because they learn how to move in varied ways…”
If left for themselves, that’s what kids would do right? They happily play whatever catches their fancy at the moment. Maybe they are right after all.
So shouldn’t kids train for competitive sports at all?
“The emphasis should be on preparation for future success and health, rather than
Sarah Warren
performance…”
So the next time you feel your kid should run faster than Usain Bolt when they are five, I hope, you realize where (with whom) the problem is!
Destination Infinity
I don’t know when this author wrote this book. I agree with you that parents should not push their kids beyond their limit. But, nowadays, surgeons have developed new methods to treat problems. In addition, there are specialists (at least in USA) for every team (even in high school) to train the athletes how to fall without hurting themselves.
In countries like China, it’s mind-boggling to see the pressure parents put on their little kids (even pre-school) to succeed in professional sports, like Gymnastics. Besides, not everyone does it the right way employing specialists and all that…
Destination Infinity
Please don’t bring China into any equation/discussion. Their leadership are not human.
I got muscle tear due to running earlier. My joints are also not fully okay.
I thought my timing was great and could be a champion 5K runner.
To think about it now I feel ashamed.
Confusions happen.
Yes, parents need to be careful.
Parents push their kids out of genuine concern that they should turn out well… But will they still push them if they know the consequences?
But we keep making mistakes in life all the time. The best thing to do is to share them so that others are careful, if they pay heed to it.
Destination Infinity
Parental pressure on children is too much. Not just in sports, but also in academics. That’s sad. Mostly they do it without realising the long-lasting damage they cause to their children.
Once, I heard from a mother who came to our house, leaving her kid in French class, telling my mom that there was a lot of competition and her kid had to learn many things to cope with the challenge. I want to ask her if she participates in sports, and from what you quote from the book, I understand that even those who train for sports need restraint. I don’t know why a child needs to learn everything, even though the parents know it’s impossible. It’s the social pressure that falls on children.