eMJA: Nutrition and physical activity for Australian children

6. How much physical activity is too much for children?

Med J Aust 2000; 173 Suppl 7 August: S8

Physical activity and sports participation are beneficial for children, but they also involve some risks. There is increasing evidence (for example, from the Northern Sydney Area Health Service New South Wales youth sports injury report of July 1997, and from overseas²⁵) that the rate of both overuse injuries and catastrophic events increases with excessive, highly strenuous and intensive training.

How much physical activity is too much? Coaches, teachers and parents must be aware of the individual variations that occur in the physical, physiological and psychological capacities of young athletes. Further, the impact of any sport on a child will also vary according to the nature of the sport or physical activity. For example, children involved in contact sports (like rugby) are more likely to have acute injuries than swimmers or runners, who sometimes have overuse injuries resulting from repetitive trauma. Before puberty, children should be encouraged to participate in a variety of activities; early specialisation in one sport should be avoided. Most sports injuries in childhood are potentially preventable,^26,27 and general measures of primary prevention are outlined in Box 4.

Nathalie Farpour-Lambert

4: Primary prevention of sports injuries in children

Prescreening or preparticipation sports medical examination
Warm-up activities, stretching exercises and cooling-down activities
Training courses for children's coaches about exercise, fitness and health
Individualised coaching programs, taking into account a child's physical maturation, skill level, ability to learn new skills, enthusiasm, and any physical limitations
A safe environment
Adequate sports equipment, including protective equipment
Training on a variety of surfaces
Prevention of sunburn, dehydration and heat stroke
Adapting rules to make sports more suitable for children
Health education
Emphasis on fair play

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