HBO Real Sports: Youth Sports Injuries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HBO did a big piece on the professionalization of youth sports which has led to a spike in youth injuries. For example, over the last ten years, there has been a 5x increase in the number of pediatric ACL injuries.

An interesting piece worth watching, especially for those who are doing sports year-round.

I will maintain an open mind. But where were all these injuries when we greet up 30-40 years ago and played more than kids today in every sport, except perhaps football? And what about all the kids overseas who play soccer for hours a day, much more than standard top travel teams? Are they also seeing a dramatic increase, or even any increase, in these injuries?

One thing overseas clubs in some countries at least do is spend time in the weight room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HBO did a big piece on the professionalization of youth sports which has led to a spike in youth injuries. For example, over the last ten years, there has been a 5x increase in the number of pediatric ACL injuries.

An interesting piece worth watching, especially for those who are doing sports year-round.

I will maintain an open mind. But where were all these injuries when we greet up 30-40 years ago and played more than kids today in every sport, except perhaps football? And what about all the kids overseas who play soccer for hours a day, much more than standard top travel teams? Are they also seeing a dramatic increase, or even any increase, in these injuries?

Yes, there is an increase in former athletes, and not just football. Talk to former D1 athletes today who are in their 30s and 40s and many report they are still paying the price.

https://www.si.com/edge/2017/10/31/former-college-athletes-chronic-injuries-health-issues

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:HBO did a big piece on the professionalization of youth sports which has led to a spike in youth injuries. For example, over the last ten years, there has been a 5x increase in the number of pediatric ACL injuries.

An interesting piece worth watching, especially for those who are doing sports year-round.

I will maintain an open mind. But where were all these injuries when we greet up 30-40 years ago and played more than kids today in every sport, except perhaps football? And what about all the kids overseas who play soccer for hours a day, much more than standard top travel teams? Are they also seeing a dramatic increase, or even any increase, in these injuries?

Yes, there is an increase in former athletes, and not just football. Talk to former D1 athletes today who are in their 30s and 40s and many report they are still paying the price.

https://www.si.com/edge/2017/10/31/former-college-athletes-chronic-injuries-health-issues

I totally get that. Much greater activity and impact obviously takes a longer term toll. That has always been true. The hypothesis under discussiom is there are more injuries today, and more while they are young, and that it is because kids are playing too much now, either with one sport or too many. I expect ex-serious-players to have bone and cartilage issues, among others.

[Anonymous]

What they left out is how much of this relates to boys versus girls. My understanding is that girls have as much as a 10x greater risk of an ACL injury because of the way their bodies develop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What they left out is how much of this relates to boys versus girls. My understanding is that girls have as much as a 10x greater risk of an ACL injury because of the way their bodies develop.

I haven't read a number that high, but I think a lot of it comes back to us not doing enough prevention. There is a lot that can be done to reduce the risk such as strength training (which doesn't just mean have them run suicides) and in the proper way to warm up a team.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting this, eye opening for sure! Wish the show provided more solutions though, like how many hours is ok per age group etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What they left out is how much of this relates to boys versus girls. My understanding is that girls have as much as a 10x greater risk of an ACL injury because of the way their bodies develop.

I haven't read a number that high, but I think a lot of it comes back to us not doing enough prevention. There is a lot that can be done to reduce the risk such as strength training (which doesn't just mean have them run suicides) and in the proper way to warm up a team.

Yes, that plays a part, but the geometry of the knee joint as defined by hip width plays a big role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What they left out is how much of this relates to boys versus girls. My understanding is that girls have as much as a 10x greater risk of an ACL injury because of the way their bodies develop.

I haven't read a number that high, but I think a lot of it comes back to us not doing enough prevention. There is a lot that can be done to reduce the risk such as strength training (which doesn't just mean have them run suicides) and in the proper way to warm up a team.

Yes, that plays a part, but the geometry of the knee joint as defined by hip width plays a big role.

You're missing the point. What I'm saying is that there is a ton of research to say the incidence of ACL tears

However, I would also say that the research into what causes females to tear their aCLs more isn't in agreement it's over hip alignment, although that may contribute. There is a lot of research it's more about females being quadriceps dominant and having delayed hamstring activation. With improved hamstring activation for knee stabilization, the risk goes down. But I don't want to sidetrack the discussion to the why.

What's important is that it is not inevitable. Physical movement classes should be considered part of the sport, to teach children to land safely and in control. Also, specific strength training programs can address landing as well as foot movements, and female athletes can be trained starting from when they are young to improve neuromuscular control to improve hamstring activation. Finally, the FIFA 11+ has been shown to reduce injuries by as much as 45%. These are all things we can and should insist on to protect them.

[Anonymous]

From the video, sounds like 8-11 year olds having ACL surgeries is more common today. Wow!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for posting this, eye opening for sure! Wish the show provided more solutions though, like how many hours is ok per age group etc.

agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What they left out is how much of this relates to boys versus girls. My understanding is that girls have as much as a 10x greater risk of an ACL injury because of the way their bodies develop.

I haven't read a number that high, but I think a lot of it comes back to us not doing enough prevention. There is a lot that can be done to reduce the risk such as strength training (which doesn't just mean have them run suicides) and in the proper way to warm up a team.

Yes, that plays a part, but the geometry of the knee joint as defined by hip width plays a big role.

You're missing the point. What I'm saying is that there is a ton of research to say the incidence of ACL tears

However, I would also say that the research into what causes females to tear their aCLs more isn't in agreement it's over hip alignment, although that may contribute. There is a lot of research it's more about females being quadriceps dominant and having delayed hamstring activation. With improved hamstring activation for knee stabilization, the risk goes down. But I don't want to sidetrack the discussion to the why.

What's important is that it is not inevitable. Physical movement classes should be considered part of the sport, to teach children to land safely and in control. Also, specific strength training programs can address landing as well as foot movements, and female athletes can be trained starting from when they are young to improve neuromuscular control to improve hamstring activation. Finally, the FIFA 11+ has been shown to reduce injuries by as much as 45%. These are all things we can and should insist on to protect them.

The FIFA 11+ is only effective if done correctly, with a proper warmup BEFORE the "warmup". That's the piece that a lot of soccer-only coaches miss. No Olympic track athlete would go do bounding drills or sprints 10 minutes into a warmup -- they would have done easy overall warmup first. Many teams do the FIFA 11 and players are into ballistic movement almost immediately. It's a great process but can't be done with cold muscles. Just food for thought.

[Anonymous]

This is all very scientific. Not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What they left out is how much of this relates to boys versus girls. My understanding is that girls have as much as a 10x greater risk of an ACL injury because of the way their bodies develop.

I haven't read a number that high, but I think a lot of it comes back to us not doing enough prevention. There is a lot that can be done to reduce the risk such as strength training (which doesn't just mean have them run suicides) and in the proper way to warm up a team.

Yes, that plays a part, but the geometry of the knee joint as defined by hip width plays a big role.

You're missing the point. What I'm saying is that there is a ton of research to say the incidence of ACL tears

However, I would also say that the research into what causes females to tear their aCLs more isn't in agreement it's over hip alignment, although that may contribute. There is a lot of research it's more about females being quadriceps dominant and having delayed hamstring activation. With improved hamstring activation for knee stabilization, the risk goes down. But I don't want to sidetrack the discussion to the why.

What's important is that it is not inevitable. Physical movement classes should be considered part of the sport, to teach children to land safely and in control. Also, specific strength training programs can address landing as well as foot movements, and female athletes can be trained starting from when they are young to improve neuromuscular control to improve hamstring activation. Finally, the FIFA 11+ has been shown to reduce injuries by as much as 45%. These are all things we can and should insist on to protect them.

The FIFA 11+ is only effective if done correctly, with a proper warmup BEFORE the "warmup". That's the piece that a lot of soccer-only coaches miss. No Olympic track athlete would go do bounding drills or sprints 10 minutes into a warmup -- they would have done easy overall warmup first. Many teams do the FIFA 11 and players are into ballistic movement almost immediately. It's a great process but can't be done with cold muscles. Just food for thought.

Are you sure?

https://www.fifamedicalnetwork.com/lessons/prevention-fifa-11/

https://www.yrsa.ca/fifa-11.html

I'd like to know the right way, so if you can post anything, that would help. Everything I read makes it sound like you do it directly.

Here's a systematic review showing the scientific research supporting the FIFA 11+: https://bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13102-017-0083-z

[Anonymous]

Here's one more: https://hurlstoneparkwanderers.com.au/players-warm-up-exercises-fifa-11/

They all seem to suggest you don't warm up ahead of the FIFA 11+ warm up.

[Anonymous]

Interesting what someone asked about sports in other countries and whether they have more injuries. I really only have a small sample size but I have South American neighbors. The kids are outside on their own playing sports 24/7. It is really not adult led most of the time though sometimes the adults will come out and join a soccer game etc. I wonder if kid-led vs adult-led makes a difference in terms of injuries. I think it might.
These kids are playing a variety of sports - whatever they feel like at any given time. IMO they are good at all of the sports. And fwiw, I don’t say they are good lightly. I think a lot of kids aren’t as good as their parents think.