Price Transparency
Overuse, Overtraining and Burnout: Here’s a Breakdown

Overuse, Overtraining and Burnout: Here’s a Breakdown

by | Jan 9, 2020 | Sports Medicine

Some may think these words can be used interchangeably, but our expert Shane M. Miller, M.D., who cares for young athletes on the sidelines and in the clinic, says otherwise.

What they do have in common is that they are red flags and each needs to be addressed with equal attention. Unfortunately, though one does not always cause the other, an athlete may experience more than one of these because they are related.

Here is a quick description of each:

  • Overuse (Injuries) occur when a body part gets worn out or injured because a motion is repeated over and over without adequate rest and recovery. This happens in many sports, but common examples include knee pain in sports that involve running and jumping, such as soccer or basketball, and shoulder and elbow injuries in sports that involve throwing or overhead activity such as volleyball or baseball. In young and growing athletes, the growth plates are particularly vulnerable to overuse injuries.
  • Overtraining occurs when a high volume or high intensity of training causes a decline in athletic performance. This may occur during regular training, pre-season intensive training, or during high volume competition such as tournaments or post-season playoffs.
  • Burnout occurs when an athlete experiences internal or external pressures that outweigh their motivation to participate. This causes athletes to no longer enjoy participating in their sport, reduces their commitment to training and, in some cases, causes them to quit a sport completely.

Miller warns coaches and parents to be on the lookout for signs and symptoms of these problems in young athletes. Though the list is long, here are a few things to watch for:

  • A sudden or gradual worsening in performance or disinterest in participating in practice or competition.
  • Complaints of pain during or after activity.
  • An expression of a desire to quit.

“If we can stay ahead of these things, we are much more likely to keep children and adolescents involved in sports longer, allowing them to benefit physically, socially and mentally,” says Miller.

Learn more about pediatric sports medicine.

D CEO Healthcare: Texas Scottish Rite Opens New Clinic at Baylor Scott and White in Frisco

D CEO Healthcare: Texas Scottish Rite Opens New Clinic at Baylor Scott and White in Frisco

by | Dec 5, 2019 | General News, Press Coverage

Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research at The Star in Frisco will be the new home of a clinic from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. The Star is the home of Dallas Cowboys World Headquarters, and the clinic is meant to add pediatric sports medicine and orthopedics expertise to Baylor Scott & White’s sports medicine practice.

Frisco is a booming community full of growing families, and newly-opened Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Frisco allows local families to receive treatment without venturing down to Dallas. With elite soccer, gymnastics, lacrosse clubs in the area with a growing school district full of high quality sports programs, Dallas’ northern exurbs have become a mecca for sports-centered healthcare.

The 6,000 square foot clinic will have nine exam rooms, an X-ray room, and the ability to host more than 2,100 clinical visits each year. A sports medicine surgeon, sports medicine pediatrician, and other advanced providers will be available at the clinic.

Read the article. 

Is water enough for your young athlete today?

Is water enough for your young athlete today?

by | Oct 30, 2019 | Sports Medicine

Water is the “go-to” drink to keep young and growing athletes hydrated for optimal performance. However, sometimes water just isn’t enough to replace electrolytes lost through sweating.

If your young athlete answers yes to any of these questions, he or she may need more than water:

  • Are you going to be playing in a high-intensity activity, lasting longer than an hour?
  • Do you feel salt on your skin after an activity?
  • Do you see salt on your clothes after an activity?
  • Are you going to be participating in back-to-back events or tournaments?
  • Are you going to be playing in hot or humid conditions, either indoors or outdoors?
  • Do you have a hard time drinking extra fluids on practice and game days?

All of these are reasons to supplement a water hydration plan with sports drinks or salty snacks. Incorporating these throughout the day ensures optimal safety, health, and performance during each practice and game.

The sodium in these items helps to keep water in the body, replaces lost electrolytes, and also stimulates thirst.  Thirst encourages the athlete to drink more fluids than he or she may do naturally.

Here are some suggestions to have on hand:

  • Sports drinks
  • Broth-based soups
  • Vegetable or tomato juice
  • Pretzels or salty crackers
  • Pickles
  • String cheese
  • Yogurt

Talk with your young athlete about when to reach for these salty snacks; enjoying them too often can lead to other problems. Your child’s pediatrician or sports dietitian can help design a nutrition plan that’s right for your young athlete.

For more information, download our Hydration PDF (English / Spanish).

Learn more about pediatric sports medicine.

Want to Know What the NBA and Scottish Rite Hospital Have in Common?

Want to Know What the NBA and Scottish Rite Hospital Have in Common?

by | Oct 29, 2019 | General News, Sports Medicine

This weekend, at the third invitation-only Dallas Mavericks Youth Combine, the area’s top middle school basketball players and their parents heard one message over and over again –don’t specialize in one sport too soon.

Our team was excited to be there and happy to support this message. The evidence is piling up against early specialization including early burnout, quitting sports at a young age and less career playing time often directly associated with injuries. Pediatric orthopedic surgeon Henry B. Ellis, M.D., was invited to provide an overview of injuries in basketball. He emphasized the importance of rest, at least three months from each organized sport every year. This interactive conversation with parents included these key messages:

  • Knee overuse injuries (Osgood Schlatter and Sinding Larsen Johansen) are more likely in this age group, particularly with basketball players. Proper knee range of motion and stretching can help.
  • Hip overuse injuries (femoral acetabular impingement) are progressive and should be evaluated to minimize the damage to soft tissues in the hip joint.

In response to questions about bracing and cryotherapy, Ellis reminded parents that there are no fast cures to something that is caused over time. Rest is necessary and the studies are starting to show that diversity in sports and taking breaks throughout the year, can place athletes at an advantage.

Greg Nared, Senior Vice President of Community Relations for the Dallas Mavericks, echoed this in his message to the players and the parents. Convinced that injuries can be avoided with proper rest and skill development, Nared encouraged parents to expose their children to other sports and non-basketball training. He and Ellis decided several years ago that they needed to work together to get this message and others about health and wellness to kids. Playing sports, including basketball, has many advantages and together they want to figure out how to get more involved to help keep kids playing longer.

In the combine event, Scottish Rite for Children staff participated by taking some measurements and offering feedback to the athletes about opportunities for improvement. Some suggestions included:

    • Stretch the ankle and heel cord to improve ankle flexibility. Rigidity at the ankle can cause excess demands on the knee.
    • Stretch the quadriceps (muscles in front of the thigh). Short muscles and repeated jumping and running can cause overuse injuries in the knee.
    • Learn proper squatting form. Poor movement with squatting will translate into poor movement with jumping and landing, leaving a knee vulnerable to significant injury.

    • This NBA-like combine experience was designed with the young athlete in mind. These young athletes are in the prime of their development and growth, putting them at risk of certain injuries. However, it also puts them in a perfect position to learn about protecting their bodies. 

        Learn more about our partnership with the Dallas Mavericks. 

      FOX 4: Coppell High School invests in high-tech mouthguards for football players

      FOX 4: Coppell High School invests in high-tech mouthguards for football players

      by | Oct 18, 2019 | Press Coverage, Sports Medicine

      New technology may be able to help coaches keep North Texas high school football players safer when it comes to head injuries. Our sports medicine expert, Dr. Shane Miller weighed in on the topic with FOX 4 News.

      He says there is still a lot to learn about using sensor technology in high-tech mouthguards to monitor players, but believes it is a step in the right direction.

      “I don’t want parents to have a false sense of security,” he said. “This is not a concussion detection device. You still need to rely on trainers and medical personnel to help identify this. But the technology does have the potential to impact player safety if used correctly.”

      Watch FOX 4’s feature