Early Sports Specialization and Injury Prevention
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM |
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Session Description
Think about the 10 year-old you see in clinic who pitches year-round for 3 different teams, or the 11 year-old who dances 14 hours per week. You already know that level of activity is not healthy for them. This talk will discuss how to define the epidemic of “Early Sports Specialization” among youth athletes, the data surrounding injury and burnout associated with early sports specialization, and how there really is not an upside to specializing early. We’ll also discuss strategies for how to have the conversation about sports specialization in the office with at-risk patients (and especially their parents!) as well as provide resources to help your patients stay on the field with injury prevention strategies.
Key Elements of this Session
- Defining "Early Sports Specialization" among youth athletes
- Risks of injury and burnout among youth athletes who specialize early
- Strategies for addressing early sports specialization and injury prevention strategies
Biography Daniel Howard, MD, FAAOS, is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with subspecialty fellowship training in sports medicine. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the cross country and track and field teams. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis before completing his orthopaedic surgery residency at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, where he served as the Administrative Chief Resident during his final year. He then went on to the prestigious Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles to complete his sports medicine fellowship, where he was part of the medical staff of the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Galaxy, Los Angeles Sparks, and many junior colleges and high schools. Dr. Howard treats a wide variety of orthopaedic and sports-related issues of the knee, shoulder, elbow, and hip. He has particular clinical interests in knee injuries of the ligaments, meniscus, and cartilage; shoulder injuries of the rotator cuff, labrum, and instability; working with overhead and throwing athletes; and working with runners. He currently serves as the Team Physician for Mahopac High School and Assistant Team Physician for Pace University. |