The Risks of Sports Specialization in the Adolescent Female Athlete

ABSTRACT SINGLE-SPORT SPECIALIZED TRAINING HAS LED TO AN EMERGING RISK OF OVERUSE INJURY AND BURNOUT. HOWEVER, MUCH OF THE ATTENTION ON THIS TOPIC HAS FOCUSED ON YOUNG MALE ATHLETES WITH LIMITED DATA AVAILABLE ON FEMALES. THE PURPOSE OF THIS ARTICLE IS TO OUTLINE THE POTENTIAL RISKS AND SPORTS-SPECIFIC TRENDS IN THE ADOLESCENT ATHLETES, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON SPORTS SPECIALIZATION IN FEMALES. THERE IS EMERGING EVIDENCE OF AN INCREASE IN INJURIES AND OVERUSE INJURIES RELATED TO THE DEGREE OF SPORTS SPECIALIZATION IN FEMALE ATHLETES. ADOLESCENT FEMALE ATHLETES WHO SPECIALIZE IN A SINGLE SPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN INDIVIDUAL SPORTS SHOULD BE MONITORED FOR POTENTIAL INCREASED RISK OF OVERUSE INJURIES.