There’s an interesting article on overuse injuries in young athletes in the Strength and Conditioning Journal this month. The author, James Johnson, has done an excellent job of putting into words a problem I see every day. Since most of you don’t have access to it, I thought I’d give you a few highlights of Dr. Johnson's research on what is an alarming increase in injuries among young athletes. 
Competitive seasons last longer and many athletes practice all year for one sport.
Cuts in school physical education has led parents to create homegrown programs for their children. Unfortunately, coaches in these programs sometimes have minimal training. Certification isn't always required. So we are placing our most vulnerable athletes with the least trained coaches.
Overuse injuries are the most common. They are typically caused by repetitive submaximal loading, which occurs with activities such as throwing, swimming, or running.
Children are especially susceptible to overuse injuries because they are still growing.
Prevention is the key. Use proper training methods and allow time for recovery. Always use an appropriate warm up. Vary practice patterns to avoid overuse. Measure progression and make sure it is a gradual progression.
I couldn’t agree more with this article – too many children are getting overuse injuries. At SVMC, we're seeing more and more kids with sore shoulders, sore knees, sore backs, etc.
There are many factors here, not just overtraining. Some of these kids are deconditioned (too many video games), or their injuries are related to motivation, but overtraining is often involved.
Don’t get me wrong, I think sports programs are great for kids, but they need to be done right. Coaches and parents have the best intentions, but these do not mean much if the training is wrong.
If you want to read the article in full, stop by SVMC's Health Sciences Library. Our librarian Gary Strubel will be glad to help you find a copy to read. You call the library at 802-447-5120. You can find the article in Strength and Conditioning Journal, Vol 30, Number 2, April 2008.
So it’s been awhile, but I’ve been busy!! Between the NFL combined with March Madness, and, oh yeah, work, I have been somewhat lax on my blog. Not to worry, spring is coming, and it’s getting to be time to start that outdoor training again. If you have had a relatively inactive or limited winter, do not just jump into the same outdoor training program you finished with last year. You may have stayed in shape over the winter, but remember you will need to adjust to a new routine. So start gradually and work up to it.
Did you know this is the first time in history that the four Number 1 seeds have advanced to the final four in the Big Dance. All in all, I have been somewhat disappointed by the tournament. There were a few really great games, such as the heartbreaking Davidson loss to Kansas or the WVU/Xavier game. But for every great game there seems to have been a clunker, such as that unwatchable Texas/Memphis game that I forced myself to watch. Hopefully, final four weekend will be great. I have UCLA winning it all in most of my brackets, because of their defense. We’ll see.
If you work out on a regular basis, you probably know what it feels like to not have enough time to work out. Maybe you don’t work out on a regular basis because you don’t think you have enough time.
So, if you only have a half hour or so, what can you do to maximize your benefit? Aerobic activity is fine whether it be brisk walking, running, swimming, etc, but remember that 30 minutes is looked at as a minimum time period for the beneficial effect.
How about strength training? The first thing I may do, if I only have a short amount of time, is to pick exercises which involve multiple muscle groups like squats, lunges, bench press, rows, olympic lifts. This enables me to train more muscles at once. Then, I will alternate upper and lower body – this requires less time for resting between exercises. For instance, instead of going from squats to lunges, I may go from squats to bench press to lunges, giving my legs a rest in between.
Another option when you only have a half hour is to do a core workout – believe me, you’ll feel it after a half hour. Yet another option is to do a dynamic workout of plyometrics and/or speed endurance training – the intensity of these types of workouts means a shorter time period. So you see, if you only have a half hour, you do not have an excuse.
Is Tom Brady really hurt? High ankle sprains can be pretty bad, requiring 4-6 weeks to heal. What is a high ankle sprain anyway?
When the syndesmosis (the ligamentous material that joins the two lower leg bones together) is injured, it is called a high ankle sprain. So in this case, I heard Tommy’s injury termed a “mild high ankle sprain” which should heal in 2–3 weeks. And then there are all the “Tom in a boot” and “Tom with a taped ankle” and “Tom with a noticeable limp” sightings — you’d think he was important or something! So is he really hurt, or is it a vast Patriot conspiracy to lull the Giants into a false sense of security? More importantly, will it affect him? 
If he truly is injured, I think it may, at least to some point. It’s been my observation that the only way to stay with the Patriots is to put pressure on Brady, you know, knock him around a little. If he is not 100%, maybe he’ll be a little slow stepping up in the pocket, allowing the Giants to get some pressure on him. Then maybe he throws a pick or two. Then again, maybe not. Is that high ankle sprain going to affect the outcome of this game? I doubt it.
Nothing is worse than cold feet. Whether you’re skiing, hunting, snowshoeing, or whatever, cold feet can ruin your day.
So what’s the best way to keep your feet warm? First of all, never, never wear cotton socks – cotton and cold do not go together. The problem with cotton is that it does not dry. When your feet sweat, the cotton gets wet and then the feet freeze.
This is a trick I learned from an experienced winter camper: wear a wicking layer next to the skin, such as a polypropylene sock. Next, put a plastic bag on your foot. Over that, wear a wool sock. Sometimes it feels a little strange with the bag on, but it works.