MADISON, WI (WSAU-WXPR) — More research suggests that student athletes who focus on a single sport are more likely to be injured than multi-sport athletes.
Dr. David Bell works for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Departments of Kinesiology, Orthopedics, and Rehabilitation.
“Kids are being basically forced to specialize in order to stay on different athletic teams, or to make their high school team, for example. These ages become much younger [than in the past],” said Bell. “We’re hearing of kids that are eight, nine, ten-year-olds that are basically being forced to choose one sport over others.”
If there is a key takeaway for young athletes and their parents, Dr. Bell recommends for parents to make sure their children are getting breaks in competition.
He’ll present his study this Wednesday in Minocqua during the next Science on Tap presentation at the Minocqua Brewing Company.
