fit info

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Christine

July 1, 2007

Weekend Warrior Syndrome-Kids Also Suffer

Summer is a great time for kids. The weather is warm, and for most, no school! This hopefully will mean many hours outdoors, playing and getting exercise. But are all kids today taking full advantage of summer? Also, if the kids are active, is there anything that parents should look out for? Editor Meg Jordan discusses these issues in "Message from Meg," from the July/August issue of"American Fitness" published by AFAA, (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America)

During the summer, many children become inactive while on vacation. However, promoting fitness among children is more important than ever, since we are facing obesity rates for kids ages 6 to 11 that have climbed from about 6 to 18 percent since the mid-1970's. According to David Katz, MD. MPH, acclaimed director and co-founder of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, the lifespan of babies born today may be shorter than their parents' for the first time in U.S. history. With non-nutritious, calorie-laden diets, decreasing budgets for physical education and endless hours in front of televisions and computers, children are more sedentary and more overweight than ever.

As parents and fitness educators, we have a strong obligation to encourage kids to be active. We know that fitness is earned one step at a time and results are achieved with consistency and dedication. However, due to hectic schedules, we often make the same mistake for our kids that we do as adults-we try to make up for the lack of physical activity during the week by becoming weekend warriors.

"Weekend Warrior Syndrome" is a term that encompasses all those nagging, overuse injuries (shin splints, excessively sore muscles, dehydraton, fatigue, etc.) that result from jumping into arduous workouts without sufficient warm-ups or training during the week. But, unfortunately, when kids suffer from weekend warrior syndrome, the consequences can hamper their lifelong involvement in sports.

While many childhood injuries to the growth plate &#$40;the tissue near the end of long bones that is responsible for bone growth) are caused by an acute event such as a fall or a blow to a limb, chronic injuries can also result from overuse, according to Johnny Benjamin, MD, orthopedic surgeon, sports injury specialist and director of the Medical Specialty Procedures Surgery Center in Vero Beach, FL.

For example, a gymnast who practices for hours on the uneven bars, a long-distance runner, or a baseball pitcher perfecting a curve ball are all susceptible to growth plate injuries. One large study of growth plate injuries in children showed that the majority resulted from a fall, usually when running, playing on furniture or playground equipment. Competitive sports such as football, basketball, softball, track and field, and gymnastics accounted for one-third of all injuries. Recreational activities such a biking, sledding, skiing, and skateboarding accounted for one-fifth of all growth plate fractures, while only a small percentage of growth plate injuries occurred as a result of motorized vehicle accidents.

Whether an injury is acute or due to overuse, any child who has persistent pain that affects athletic performance or the ability to move should go see a doctor. A child should never be allowed to "work through the pain." Don't let injuries go untreated when it comes to kids. Keep them healthy with regular activity that protects normal growth and development.

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