Most Popular Spring Sport Choices Among Dr. Lou’s Teenage Patients
Spring marks the transition from indoor to outdoor sports. In many middle and high schools and local communities, a variety of team and individual sports will begin taking center stage. The most popular spring sports among Dr. Lou’s teenage patients include:
– Baseball and Softball: These are among the most popular team sports played during the spring, with a significant number of children and teenagers participating in Little League and high school teams across the United States[1][11].
– Track and Field: This sport offers a wide range of events, from sprints to distance running, and field events like long jump and shot put, making it accessible to a large number of students[1].
– Soccer: While boys’ soccer is often a fall sport, girls’ soccer takes place in the spring in many high schools, contributing to its popularity[1].
– Lacrosse: This sport has seen growing popularity, especially in certain regions of the country, and is played by both boys and girls in the spring[1][3].
– Tennis: Offering both singles and doubles play, tennis is a popular spring sport for boys, with girls’ seasons typically in the fall[1].
– Sailing: What a privilege to live in Maine where kids learn to sail! Whether they are trapezing out of the boat or got hit on the head with a boom, managing performance and injuries is important to Maine’s youth sailing crew!
– Golf: Maine had a very strange winter this year. This spring sport is starting early! Very little snow and not terribly cold. Spring is here and it’s still March. Many of our patients have already head out to the golf course.
Most Common Spring Sports Injuries
Spring sports, while beneficial pretty much across the board, also come with the risk of injuries. The most common injuries associated with spring sports include (excluding the obvious neck and back pain):
– Overuse Injuries: These are prevalent across many spring sports due to repetitive motions. Specific examples include tennis elbow and little league elbow, which result from the repetitive use of the arm and wrist in sports like baseball, softball, and tennis[2][15].
– Ankle Sprains: Common in sports that involve running, jumping, and quick changes in direction, such as soccer and track and field[2][4].
– Runner’s Knee (Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome): This injury affects runners and athletes in sports requiring extensive running, leading to pain around the kneecap[2].
– Concussions: While more associated with contact sports, concussions can occur in spring sports like soccer and lacrosse during collisions[2][10].
– Tendonitis: Repetitive motions in sports like tennis, baseball, and track can lead to tendonitis, characterized by inflammation and pain in the tendons[2].
– Rotator Cuff Injuries: These injuries are common in sports that involve throwing motions, such as baseball and lacrosse, leading to shoulder pain and reduced mobility[4][8][15].
Prevention and proper treatment of these injuries are crucial for athletes to enjoy a healthy and productive spring sport season. This includes proper warm-up and cool-down routines, using correct techniques, and not ignoring the signs of overuse or acute injuries. Dr. Lou engages in education with all patients, helping them learn from his 22+ years of working with athletes and performers. If you learn from an expert, prevention is a whole lot easier.
Dr. Lou Jacobs has been a chiropractor in Portland, Maine since 2003. He has been a chiropractor and acupuncturist since 2002. His specialties include musicians, performing artists, pregnant moms and children. He is board certified in Perinatal and Pediatric Chiropractic. He has worked with grammy winning artists and some of the greatest musicians of our time. Dr. Lou is always accepting patients at his office in Portland, and he is available as a private consultant to musicians and others as well. For details, call (207) 774-6251.
Citations:
[1] https://www.sportdecals.com/blogs/p/what-are-the-most-popular-high-school-spring-sports-in-the-united-states
[2] https://www.oaaortho.com/blog/top-5-spring-sports-injuries-to-avoid
[3] https://www.allsportsapparelpromotions.com/picking-the-right-sport-to-play-this-spring.php
[4] https://sportsptcenters.com/the-5-most-common-spring-sports-injuries/
[5] https://awhspitch.com/7268/student-voice/spring-sport/
[6] https://www.henryford.com/blog/2022/05/spring-sports-injuries
[7] https://www.cabletv.com/sports/watch-spring-leagues
[8] https://www.bcm.edu/news/common-spring-sports-injuries
[9] https://www.ncsasports.org/articles-1/high-school-sports
[10] https://www.advanceer.com/resources/blog/2022/february/common-spring-sports-injuries/
[11] https://www.madillrecord.net/sports/popular-sports-spring-and-summer
[12] https://lancasterortho.com/blog/spring-sports-injury-prevention/
[13] https://www.i9sports.com/blog/the-best-youth-sports-for-each-season
[14] https://www.mhsaa.com/topics/health-safety/why-spring-sports-injuries-are-common-how-prevent-them
[15] https://vanguardspine.com/blog/how-to-prevent-and-treat-common-spring-sports-injuries/