One of the most famous surgeons in sports shares multi-sport message: "Take time off, don't specialize."
Dr. James Andrews has worked on some of the top names in sports, including Sam Bradford, Bo Jackson, Drew Brees, Emmitt Smith, Roger Clemens, Michael Jordan and Jack Nicklaus - just to name a few. He's widely considered as one of the top orthapedic surgeons in the world.
So it should come as no surprise that when he talks about sports injuries, and overuse injuries in particular, ears immediately perk up.
In Orlando earlier this week, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Andrews shared that the two best things that parents and kids can do to prevent overuse injuries is to not specialize, and to allow for some time off for the body to recover.
While Andrews supports multi-sport participation, he also pointed out the importance of rest, and not juggling multiple sport commitments at the same time, particularly singling out baseball.
"They should have at least two months off, preferably 3-4 months of each year and to not be throwing a baseball or overhead sport so their body has time to recuperate."
The importance of participating in multiple sports has well publicized for a while now, but new to the conversation is this piece from Dr. Andrews on the importance of rest as well.
Perhaps most interestingly in the article is the note that "60 percent to 70 percent of children drop out of sports by the age of 13 because of parental, peer or coaching pressure."
