Frequently, we hear well-meaning coaches and parents saying to youth in sports not to push too hard or they will get an injury. While their concern is appreciated, it rarely takes into account the plasticity and adaptability of youth. In 18 years being involved in athletics, I have had to pull youth back from sport [...]
Having previously discussed the safety of weightlifting in youth, we will now look at plyometircs. Johnson et al 2011 completed a literature review on children using plyometrics. Similarly to how many fear children using weights, some fear them using plyometrics. This is even more irrational given that traditional games like hop scotch and leap frog [...]
Our previous posts on the sports science of tennis discussed the success and decline of top 10 players since the open era began. In part II, we discussed a hot topic among tennis coaches and sports scientists in general, the concept of early specialisation. In part III physical preparation for tennis, two themes run concurrently: the first theme is the annual [...]
That is an image of Naomi Kutin at 10 years old weighing in at 44kg (97lb) breaking the world record for her division with a 97.7kg (215lb) squat. Recently, I was in a long car ride with a power lifter who told me she felt children shouldn’t be lifting weights until they are 16. Surprised at her [...]
Sindig-Larson-Johnson syndrome is an apophysitis of the tibial tuberosity. The site where many of tendons of the thigh muscles attach to bone actually swells. This inflammatory reaction is painful and can have effects on the child. It generally happens during the rapid development of puberty when the skeleton and the muscles (and their joining tendons) [...]
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease (a condition described by Legg, Calve, Perthes and Waldenstrom in the early 20th century) strikes children and can leave them crippled. Rates vary from 6/100,000 to 15/100,000 depending on the population studied though it appears to be of higher frequency among anglo-saxons. It is currently believed that osteochondritis dissicans is a local phenomenon [...]
We wrote a short series on the importance of warming up a while back, referring to the 11+ neuromuscular warm-up used in soccer. The results indicate that a thorough 20-30min warm-up including general & specific movements, sprinting & plyometrics, and balance exercises produces favourable results in terms of decreasing the incidences of ankle and knee injuries. These [...]
