Information about project titled 'The association between early specialization and performance level with injury and illness risk in youth elite athletes'
The association between early specialization and performance level with injury and illness risk in youth elite athletes
| Details about the project - category | Details about the project - value |
|---|---|
| Project status: | Published |
| Project manager: | Christine Holm Moseid |
| Supervisor(s): | Roald Bahr, Grethe Myklebust |
| Coworker(s): | Jonathan Brun Bar-Yaacov, Åse-Helene Kristiansen, Marit Slåstuen |
Description
Background: Little is known regarding talented youth elite athletes and their potential risk of injury or illness. A trend is observed towards more specialized training and selection into talent programs at an early age.
Aim: Our aim was to examine whether the most talented and highly specialized athletes in a cohort of 259 16-yr old elite athletes were at increased risk of incurring injury or illness after entering a specialized Sport Academy High School programme.
Methods: The Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC) questionnaire on health problems was used to self-report injuries and illnesses weekly. Primary exposures were early specialization, single- versus multi-sport involvement, and performance level reported at baseline by the athletes and their coaches.
Implications: At present, there is not much evidence regarding early single sport specialization and talent as possible risk factors for injury or illness in this group. Nevertheless, we have concerns regarding the health of highly talented athletes. In the current report, we wanted to describe this relationship enabling us to give evidence-based advices related to early single sport specialization as well as promoting better caretaking of highly talented youth athletes.