Abstract
OP5.1 Early specialization in youth sports is associated with hip pain and surgical treatment in college age athletes
Journal of hip preservation surgery, Vol.12(Suppl 1), pp.i34-i35
03/27/2025
DOI: 10.1093/jhps/hnaf011.107
PMCID: PMC11954633
Abstract
Introduction
: Youth sports participation and early specialization has drastically increased, but there is limited investigation into the impact on physical and mental health. Power sports participation during hip development (8 to 14 years old) can increase the risk of hip morphology resulting in femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip dysplasia. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of youth sport specialization from 8-14 years old on musculoskeletal injury and mental health in college age young adults.
Methods
: 18- to 22-year-old college students were enrolled at five universities to complete a survey documenting sports participation and specialization between 8 and 14 years old. Additionally, the survey characterized current sport participation and level, musculoskeletal injury and treatment, and current physical and mental health. Participants were grouped according to whether or not they specialized in a single youth sport. Differences between groups were evaluated using chi-square or Wilcoxon Rank Sum tests, for categorical or continuous variables, respectively.
Results
: Of 1,018 young adults who completed the survey, 749 (73.6%) were female. Baseball/softball, basketball, soccer, track/cross country, and volleyball were the most common primary sports. 388 (37%) of respondents quit other sports entirely between the ages of 8- to 14-years-old to specialize in their primary sport.
Youth athletes that reported specialization more commonly had hip/groin pain (62.7% vs 53.3% p=0.0035) and were more likely to quit their primary sport entirely due to injury (68.0% vs 55.4%, p<0.0001). Of patients that reported hip or groin pain, early specialization was associated with surgical treatment (21.3% vs 12.4%, p=0.0328). Hip arthroscopy was the most common surgical treatment reported in 39 participants. Early specialization was also associated with lower iHOT scores (p=0.0005) but was not associated with orthopaedic surgeries other than hip and did not result in lower mental or physical health scores.
Discussion
: Youth sport specialization from 8 to 14 years old was very common in over 1000 college-age young adults. Specialization was associated with hip pain and surgical treatment of hip conditions. Youth athletes should be discouraged from early specialization to avoid future hip pain and dysfunction. Further investigation is needed to determine the impact of specialization in power sports during high-risk times of hip development on hip morphology.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- OP5.1 Early specialization in youth sports is associated with hip pain and surgical treatment in college age athletes
- Creators
- Michael Willey - University of IowaElle McCormick - University of IowaJohn C. Davison - University of IowaRobert W. Westermann - University of IowaAshley Kochuyt - University of IowaCourtney Seffker - University Of Iowa Hospitals And Clinics, Iowa City, United StatesAlisa DrapeauxNatalie Glass - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Publication Details
- Journal of hip preservation surgery, Vol.12(Suppl 1), pp.i34-i35
- DOI
- 10.1093/jhps/hnaf011.107
- PMCID
- PMC11954633
- ISSN
- 2054-8397
- eISSN
- 2054-8397
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 03/27/2025
- Academic Unit
- Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Injury Prevention Research Center; Athletic Training Program
- Record Identifier
- 9984805006502771
Metrics
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