ORLANDO, Fla. — As fall sports get underway across Central Florida, doctors are warning parents and student athletes to ease into intense practices and conditioning.
Football, volleyball, cheerleading and other sports are beginning their seasons, but sports medicine physician Dr. John Bocinsky with Orlando Health says the first few weeks of practice often bring an increase in overuse injuries.
Many student athletes go from a less-active summer to demanding training almost overnight. Bocinsky says the body may not be prepared for that sudden increase in intensity.
“Pain usually starts maybe after activity,” Bocinsky said. “Then the pain will progress during activity. Then it’ll progress to even at rest.”
Unlike a broken bone or sprained ankle, overuse injuries can develop gradually over days or weeks. Runners may experience knee pain, gymnasts can develop heel injuries, and baseball and softball players may suffer shoulder or elbow injuries. Bocinsky says athletes between 11 and 16 may face a higher risk because their bodies are still growing.
Doctors recommend increasing training volume or intensity by no more than 10% to 20% each week. Athletes should also warm up before practice, stay hydrated, eat nutritious meals and get enough sleep.
Parents should encourage their children to speak up about persistent pain instead of trying to push through it.
Recovery should begin as soon as practice ends, doctors say, with athletes refueling, rehydrating and getting adequate rest.
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