Sports medicine stats: Early sport specialization and burnout
Dr. David Geier is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, South Carolina and Charlotte, North Carolina. He helps athletes and active people feel and perform their best, regardless of age, injuries and medical history. He has been featured in major media publications and shows over 2,500 times throughout his career.
There is a valid concern of sports attrition related to early, specialized intense training among youth athletes. In a study on burnout, earlier specialization in swimming resulted in less time on the national team and earlier retirement compared with later specialization. In ice hockey, players more prone to dropout began off-ice training at a younger age, while they also invested a larger number of hours in off-ice training at a younger age compared with those who continued participation. Other studies in sports, such as swimming and tennis, suggest that retirement from sports may be the consequence of burnout, which young athletes may experience with continued intense and specialized participation.
Source: Sports Health, Published online August 6, 2015
Through the stories of a dozen athletes whose injuries and recovery advanced the field (including Joan Benoit, Michael Jordan, Brandi Chastain, and Tommy John), Dr. Geier explains how sports medicine makes sports safer for the pros, amateurs, student-athletes, and weekend warriors alike.
specialization in swimming resulted in less time on the national team and earlier retirement compared with later specialization. In ice hockey, players more prone to dropout began off-ice training at a younger age, while they also invested a larger number of hours in off-ice training at a younger age compared with those who continued participation. Other studies in sports, such as swimming and tennis, suggest that retirement from sports may be the consequence of burnout, which young athletes may experience with continued intense and specialized participation.