Success or Setback: A Literature Review of the Association Between Youth Athlete Sport Specialization and Injury Incidence from Adolescence to Adulthood.
Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Senior
Major
Exercise Science
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Dr. Amelia Dodd
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
For a multitude of reasons, in the United States, present day society is a persistent witness as well as a contributor to the adultification and professionalization of children alongside the activities they engage in. Single-sport specialization in youth sports is one of our most clear and poignant instances of the existence of this subcurrent. However, in recent years following the uptick in single-sport specialization among youth athletes there has also been a marked increase in sports medicine professionals recommending that athletes and their families avoid premature commitment to a sole sport due to concerns of physical health risks. While the most prominent concern is overuse injuries from repetitive & forceful movements– more attention is also being given to if increases in participation volume leads to increased risk for acute injury. Through a comprehensive evaluation of available and relevant literature, the objective of this review is to analyze if there are significant differences in injury rates for specialized youth athletes in comparison to multi-sport youth athletes spanning from adolescence to adulthood. Study & participant characteristics assessed to determine this include age at specialization, the sport specialized in, the extent of specialization, type of injury, and the rate of injury occurrence.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Honors College Senior Thesis Presentations
Success or Setback: A Literature Review of the Association Between Youth Athlete Sport Specialization and Injury Incidence from Adolescence to Adulthood.
For a multitude of reasons, in the United States, present day society is a persistent witness as well as a contributor to the adultification and professionalization of children alongside the activities they engage in. Single-sport specialization in youth sports is one of our most clear and poignant instances of the existence of this subcurrent. However, in recent years following the uptick in single-sport specialization among youth athletes there has also been a marked increase in sports medicine professionals recommending that athletes and their families avoid premature commitment to a sole sport due to concerns of physical health risks. While the most prominent concern is overuse injuries from repetitive & forceful movements– more attention is also being given to if increases in participation volume leads to increased risk for acute injury. Through a comprehensive evaluation of available and relevant literature, the objective of this review is to analyze if there are significant differences in injury rates for specialized youth athletes in comparison to multi-sport youth athletes spanning from adolescence to adulthood. Study & participant characteristics assessed to determine this include age at specialization, the sport specialized in, the extent of specialization, type of injury, and the rate of injury occurrence.