Early sports specialization linked to increased injury risk

Medical Xpress

March 4, 2026

Parents of athletic children can protect them from injury by encouraging them to try out a wide variety of sports, a new study says. Repetitive stress from focusing on one sport at a young age increases an athlete's risk of injuries into adulthood, according to a pair of new studies presented this week at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons' annual meeting in New Orleans.