Benefits of Playing Multiple Sports By: Maggie Broomfield
Do you play multiple sports? If you said yes, you probably have better overall health. Playing multiple sports has many benefits like preventing overuse injuries and preventing burnout.
Burn out is when an athlete gets bored of playing one particular sport all the time and eventually stops. It would be very unamusing and taxing to play one sport every day, as opposed to playing multiple in a year. According to usabaseball.com, "by taking a break of one sport and playing another, athletes are given a variety, as well as different situations and they are able to continue playing sports because they are more likely to enjoy them." Many people play sports because they are fun, not a job. Only playing one sport can make it into a job and athletes will stop playing sports. Playing multiple sports can be a mental break too. The stress of competition from one sport can become too much, but when an athlete goes to another practice the stress is not there and they can have fun.
Overuse injuries are also very common when playing only one sport. According to orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. David Geier, playing one sport puts stress on one part of the body all the time. However, playing multiple sports allows the stress to move to a different part of the body and give the other part a rest. When someone plays more than one sport muscles get a break and other muscles are strengthened. Overuse injuries can include sesamoiditis, strains, sprains, stress fractures and tears in muscles, tendons and ligaments. As stated on usabaseball.com, "by playing a variety of sports, especially during the critical development years, athletes are better able to develop all of their muscle groups instead of just specific muscles for one sport." If all of the muscle groups are developed in an athlete, they have a better chance of success. Multiple sports are also great for cross training. One sport may be providing flexibility while the other could be providing strength. The strength and flexibility will end up working together to make an athlete better at both sports and less likely to get injured.
Playing multiple sports has many advantages for athletes. It helps their mental and physical health by preventing burn out and overuse injuries. Any athlete who wants to stick with their sport forever without getting injured should consider playing more than one sport.
Do you play multiple sports? If you said yes, you probably have better overall health. Playing multiple sports has many benefits like preventing overuse injuries and preventing burnout.
Burn out is when an athlete gets bored of playing one particular sport all the time and eventually stops. It would be very unamusing and taxing to play one sport every day, as opposed to playing multiple in a year. According to usabaseball.com, "by taking a break of one sport and playing another, athletes are given a variety, as well as different situations and they are able to continue playing sports because they are more likely to enjoy them." Many people play sports because they are fun, not a job. Only playing one sport can make it into a job and athletes will stop playing sports. Playing multiple sports can be a mental break too. The stress of competition from one sport can become too much, but when an athlete goes to another practice the stress is not there and they can have fun.
Overuse injuries are also very common when playing only one sport. According to orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, Dr. David Geier, playing one sport puts stress on one part of the body all the time. However, playing multiple sports allows the stress to move to a different part of the body and give the other part a rest. When someone plays more than one sport muscles get a break and other muscles are strengthened. Overuse injuries can include sesamoiditis, strains, sprains, stress fractures and tears in muscles, tendons and ligaments. As stated on usabaseball.com, "by playing a variety of sports, especially during the critical development years, athletes are better able to develop all of their muscle groups instead of just specific muscles for one sport." If all of the muscle groups are developed in an athlete, they have a better chance of success. Multiple sports are also great for cross training. One sport may be providing flexibility while the other could be providing strength. The strength and flexibility will end up working together to make an athlete better at both sports and less likely to get injured.
Playing multiple sports has many advantages for athletes. It helps their mental and physical health by preventing burn out and overuse injuries. Any athlete who wants to stick with their sport forever without getting injured should consider playing more than one sport.