Children and sport
How does sport affect your child's health?
Sport plays a central role in the healthy development of children – both physically and mentally. However, not every sport suits every child and the right choice depends on many factors. As a specialist in orthopaedics and child development, I would like to give you some tips on how to choose the best sport for your child and avoid common mistakes.
Recommendations for children and sport
Promoting diversity at a young age
The younger the child is, the more varied their physical activity should be. In the early years, the focus is on promoting stability and coordination. Only after the age of 10 does it make sense to integrate targeted strength training into the sports program.
Observe individual physical requirements
The parents’ wishes should not take precedence over the child’s physical needs. Training should not only be based on age, but above all on the child’s biological development. Children of the same age can differ considerably in size, muscle development and maturity, which is why individual adjustments are crucial.
Consider phases of growth
Specific challenges arise particularly during the phase of accelerated growth, which usually takes place between the ages of 14 and 16. During this time, the bones grow faster than the muscles, which makes regular and targeted stretching necessary in order to prevent injuries and poor posture. At the same time, the brain develops more slowly than the body, which should be taken into account during training. This means that less complex and technically demanding exercises make more sense during this phase.
Regeneration and sleep
In addition to the actual training, recovery plays a central role. Sufficient sleep is essential for the child’s regeneration and physical well-being. This is the only way to avoid overexertion and its long-term consequences.
Avoid one-sided training
One-sided strain in childhood often leads to overuse of the musculoskeletal system. This often manifests itself in poor posture or pain, which can worsen over time. A combination of different sports, such as swimming and team sports, is ideal for training the entire body in a balanced way.
Case study from practice
An 8-year-old boy visited my practice with complaints that were due to unbalanced training.
His sports routine included soccer training twice a day and intensive strength training such as push-ups.
The result was overdeveloped muscles in the lower limbs and chest and weak back muscles.
This imbalance led to poor posture such as a rounded back, shoulders pulled forward and protruding shoulder blades. Without adapting the training, there is a risk of chronic back pain and long-term postural damage.
Advice for parents on children and sport
The right choice of sporting activity not only promotes your child’s health, but also protects their musculoskeletal system in the long term. Let’s work together to achieve the best for your child.
Do you have questions about your child’s sporting activities or are you noticing initial problems such as pain or poor posture? As an experienced orthopaedist, I will be happy to help you.
