sport – Page 6 – Dr Nicky Keay

Optimising Health, Fitness and Sports Performance for young people

2 November 2016

Young people need information in order to make life decisions on their health, fitness and sport training with the support of their families, teachers and coaches.

As discussed in my previous blog anima sana in corpore sano, exercise has a positive effect on all aspects of health: physical, mental and social. The beneficial impact of exercise is particularly important during adolescence where bodies and minds are changing. This time period presents a window of opportunity for young people to optimise health and fitness, both in the short term and long term.

The physical benefits of exercise for young people include development of peak bone mass, body composition and enhanced cardio-metabolic health. Exercise in young people has also been shown to support cognitive ability and psychological wellbeing.

Optimising health and all aspects of fitness in young athletes is especially important in order to train and compete successfully. During this phase of growth and development, any imbalances in training, combined with changes in proportions and unfused growth plates can render young athletes more susceptible to overuse injuries. A training strategy for injury prevention in this age group includes development of neuromuscular skills when neuroplasticity is available. Pilates is an excellent form of exercise to support sport performance.

In athletes where low body weight is an advantage for aesthetic reasons or where this confers a competitive advantage, this can lead to relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). Previously known as the female athlete triad, this was renamed as male athletes can also be effected. The consequences of this relative energy deficiency state are negative effects on metabolic rate, menstrual function, bone health, protein synthesis and immunity. If this situation arises in young athletes, then this is of concern for current health and may have consequences for health moving into adulthood.

A well informed young person can make decisions to optimise health, fitness and sports performance.

Link to Workshops

For further discussion on Endocrine and Metabolic aspects of SEM come to the BASEM annual conference 22/3/18: Health, Hormones and Human Performance

References

Optimal Health: Especially Young Athletes! Part 3 – Consequences of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports Dr N. Keay, British Association Sport and Exercise Medicine 13/4/17

Report from Chief Medical Officer

Cognitive benefits of exercise

Injuries in young athletes

Young people: neuromuscular skills for sports performance

IOC consensus statement\

Exercise and fitness in young people – what factors contribute to long term health? Dr N. Keay, British Journal of Sports Medicine

Ballet for Injury Prevention

29 October 2016

Ballet is an excellent way for people of all ages to improve mobility and build strength.

Furthermore, if athletes take Ballet classes then this can aid in injury prevention. Ballet incorporates all the elements of a balanced training session improving core strength, muscle tone, muscle dynamics, flexibility, neuromuscular skills and proprioception. Taking Ballet class also provides an interesting challenge both mentally and physically as described in amina sana corpore sano. Ballet offers something different to the usual strength and conditioning training sessions taken by athletes.

Development of neuromuscular skills is vital for young people not only for physical fitness and enabling sports performance, but to enhance cognitive ability, both in short and long term.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons recommend that if you are tempted to try Ballet, make sure you go to a class where the teacher can ensure you learn proper technique. I teach Ballet, backed up with my experience in sport medicine and Pilates, in small class setting for individual attention and correction. Whatever your previous dance experience or current level of fitness: are you ready for the challenge and some fun?

For further discussion on Endocrine and Metabolic aspects of SEM come to the BASEM annual conference 22/3/18: Health, Hormones and Human Performance

References

Ballet

Stories

Anima sana corpore sano

Young people: neuromuscular skills for sports performance

AAOS

Amina Sana in Corpore Sano

28 October 2016

Why not give both your body and brain a workout simultaneously? Recall sequences of steps and translate into movement with musicality and expression. Challenge mind and body by taking a Ballet class. Develop and maintain a healthy mind in a healthy body.

A healthy mind in a healthy body: the WHO (World Health Organisation) defines health as a positive state, incorporating the elements of physical, mental and social health, not simply the absence of disease.

Medical evidence demonstrates that exercise is beneficial for the cardio vascular, respiratory, metabolic, endocrine and musculoskeletal systems. It also enhances wellbeing, through the release of endorphins.

Longer term interaction of physical and mental health is now being reported more in scientific journals and the press. Exercise has a long term positive effect on mental health. Exercise is a modifiable lifestyle factor that can decrease the risk of cognitive decline by 18-30%. The mechanism is thought to be related to blood flow to areas of the brain associated with memory.

Ballet is recommended by American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons as an injury prevention strategy for athletes as improves neuromuscular skills, proprioception, muscle tone and muscle dynamics.

Ballet