Kids are being put in a dangerous situation that, as they get older, has the potential to leave them with painful backs, arthritic hips and bum knees. Parents are turning to sports in an attempt to increase activity levels and maintain a healthy weight, strong bones and overall good health. Figuring more is better; these well intentioned parents sign their kids up for multiple sports creating to great a demand on a developing body. Parents are generally unaware of the damage that can be done to a growing body with too much too soon. For all the good they do, sports activities have their darker side resulting in many preventable injuries every year.

Sports related injuries can be easily avoided if kids participate in a complimentary sports training program. All athletes must prepare for their sport, kids are no different. Just look at the typical sport activity; running requires balance and strong legs and ankles; throwing a ball or swimming necessitates a strong upper back and shoulder girdle; jumping requires strong hips and good flexibility. Repetitive motion (doing the same thing over and over) is required for most sports creating a damaging problem called "overuse syndrome." Swimming is notorious for damaging knees and shoulders because of the volume of practice and limited range of motion required for the sport.

In an excellent book called Training Young Champions, Tudor Bompa, a world renowned athletic trainer, talks about this very mistake. He says that for kids to be successful, injury free athletes, they must do two things. First, they want to participate in a wide variety of sports activities but keep the volume low especially if they are young. Recovery time is very important between events. Second, they must prepare their bodies for the physical forces they will encounter. How do kids prepare? The same way as adults; for every hour spent on the field, kids should spend 30 minutes of functional training consisting of strength, balance, agility, core and flexibility work. For most kids this is about 2 hours a week of behind the scenes training to offset their playtime... just like adults.

Functional training is the training method of choice by all world class athletes. It is a superior form of training because it develops core and muscular strength, balance and flexibility in a real world setting. Joints are strengthened to better withstand muscular loads and lateral forces placed on the body by running, throwing and kicking. Flexibility is developed so muscles function properly as a child runs, jumps, kicks and moves. Core strength is required to transfer leg strength to arm movements like in the baseball, golf and tennis swing reducing the chance of rotator cuff and other shoulder injuries.

To help maximize your child's performance while helping them stay injury free, check out our sports performance Fresh Start program. Fresh Startis also a complete, healthy lifestyle solution encouraging healthier exercise, eating and relaxation habits. Fresh Startgives your child all the tools necessary for increasing strength, vitality and good health.

Contact Woody McMahon at 702-628-2880 or email Woody@SequoiaHealth.com to learn more about giving your child a
Fresh Start or to schedule your free in-person or telephone consultation.