A case of early sports specialization in an adolescent athlete.

Abstract

Early sport specialization (ESS) refers to intense year round training in a specific sport with the exclusion of other sports at a young age. This approach to training is heavily debated and there are claims both in support and against ESS. ESS is considered to be more common in the modern day youth athlete and could be a source of overuse injuries and burnout. This case describes a 16 year old elite level baseball pitcher who engaged in high volume, intense training at a young age which lead to several significant throwing related injuries. The case highlights the historical context of ESS, the potential risk and benefits as well as the evidence for its effectiveness. It is important for health care professionals to be informed on the topic of ESS in order to educate athletes, parents, coaches and organizations of the potential risks and benefits.