After seeing Lord of the Dance (a high-energy Irish dance show) at age 3, Jocelyn Mehle, now age 17, became fascinated with the athletic dance style that features minimal upper body movement and fast, frenetic footwork. “Beginning at age 5 she used to accompany her older sister, Kayla, to Burke School of Irish Dance in […]
Should student athletes take supplements?
Many teens drawn to performance-enhancing supplements think because they’re sold in stores, they must be safe and effective. But, Dr. Christopher Liebig, a sports medicine physician at Akron Children’s, says most of it’s false advertising aimed at selling products. “There’s little to no proof they will make you bigger, stronger or faster. They’re not regulated, […]
Why sports specialization for young athletes might not be best
More young athletes these days are specializing in a single sport, often training year-round and playing in multiple leagues with a goal of achieving elite status. Dr. Christopher Liebig and other sports medicine doctors are seeing negative effects from this adult-driven trend: More overuse injuries, more psychological stress and burnout. They are especially concerned that […]
