Young Athlete Podcast

Who's journey is it? In this episode we interview a parent about their experiences raising 2 children over their sporting lives.  Both children are now 17 & 19 years of age - we look back at their sporting journey so far, as a family, parent and young athlete.   In particular, we talk about how this parent has managed the landscape of when your young athlete shows some promise.  Tune in for a great episode full of interesting insights and experiences.  

Associate Professor Andrew Gardner is a clinical neuropsychologist, a National Health and Medical Research Council Early Career Fellow with the School of Medicine & Public Health at the University of Newcastle. He is also a Co-Director of the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNE LHD)'s Sport Concussion Clinic, and has served as the concussion consultant to Rugby Australia.     Andrew has conducted research in the field of sports concussion for over a decade, and has published over 50 journal articles, 6 book chapters and presented his research at over 60 national and international conferences. He is the chief investigator of one the the world's largest studies of retired professional athlete's brain health and one of the world leaders in the video analysis of concussion. He was a Fulbright Scholar in 2019 where he visited collaborators at Harvard Medical School.   Andrew has received a number of prestigious research awards during his career most notably the Discovery Award from Research Australia as the national early career researcher of the year for 2015, and a 2018 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award recipient, recognition as one of Australia’s outstanding young scientific researchers and communicators.  

Mark Renshaw is a retired Australian cyclist who grew up in Bathurst, a regional city in Western NSW. He rode professionally between 2004 and 2019 for teams including Française des Jeux, Crédit Agricole, HTC–Highroad, Belkin Pro Cycling, Etixx–Quick-Step and Team Dimension Data.  His most notable wins are the general classification of the 2011 Tour of Qatar, also the one-day race Clásica de Almería in 2013 but perhaps he is most famous for his 1-2 finish on the final stage of the 2009 Tour de France with his teammate Mark Cavendish. From 2009 to 2011 and from 2014 until his retirement, Renshaw was known as the main lead-out man for fellow sprinter Mark Cavendish at HTC–Highroad, Etixx–Quick-Step and Team Dimension Data. He is regarded as one of the best lead out men ever in professional cycling, The role of a lead out rider is to position and deliver the sprinter in the best possible place to win the race, this requires both riders having a lot of faith in each other in the final hectic moments of a bunch sprint.  After  many years trying to become a sprinter Mark moved across to become a leading out rider in 2007 with Thor Hushovd at Credit Agricole.  Mark started the Tour de France 10 times during his career, 5 times the Giro D’Italia and 2 times the La Vuelta Espana.  His final race was the 2019 edition of the Tour of Britain finishing in Manchester.  

Dr Loretta O'Sullivan-Pippia is a Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist. Loretta established Twelve9teen Sports Physiotherapy in 2009 - a practice dedicated to young athletes.   Academically, Loretta holds a Bachelor in Physiotherapy, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy and a Doctorate of Clinical Physiotherapy. Her research at undergraduate level focused on abdominal function; at post-graduate level on ankle injuries; and at Doctoral level on knee cap pain in teenage girls. She has lectured extensively in Australia and overseas on sports rehabilitation, knee injuries and adolescents in sport.   Loretta has been working with sports teams and athletes since she graduated in 1993.  She has worked in a variety of sports including rugby union, netball, track and field, swimming, gymnastics, dance, hockey, football, tennis, along with many others.    Her clients have ranged from school and club teams/athletes through to international athletes, including Olympic gold medallists.  Many of the athletes Loretta worked with as junior athletes are now competing in the NRL and Super Rugby competitions.   In this episode we cover; The importance of keeping active while sport is cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic The concept of tissue capacity and unloading Telehealth - an exciting and useful tool to help with injury management, athletic performance and coaching How telehealth will re-shape healthcare and sport The S.E.E.D.S. principles and how important they are to staying active, happy and engaged The opportunities that exist during this time to improve skills, physical capacity or address injuries If you have had a reconstruction and were facing a year out of sport - you have an opportunity to "catch up" Mental health of young athletes, coaches and parents - the importance of staying connected socially and using the resources around us.

Stephen P. Bird, PhD is Director of Strength and Conditioning (Postgraduate Coursework) at the University of Wollongong.   Dr Bird served as Director of Strength and Conditioning at the Western Region Academy of Sport coordinating youth athlete development and transition. As a performance science consultant Dr Bird has worked for numerous sporting bodies, including the Indonesian Olympic Committee (2008 Beijing Olympics; 2016 Rio Olympics), Scotland Rugby League (RLWC 2017), Poland Rugby League (ERLWC 2018), Basketball Scotland (Commonwealth Games 2018).   He is currently the Performance Consultant for Coaching and Athlete Development at Basketball NSW. Dr Bird’s current research examines the application of strength and conditioning methods, recovery and performance science on health and athletic performance.

Dr Paula Charlton is the Performance Health Manager for Triathlon Australia.    Her role focuses on the development of systems and processes for ensuring availability and optimal health for elite Australian Triathletes. She has previously worked in both Olympic and Professional Sport as a Senior Sports Physiotherapist and Strength and Conditioning coach at the Australian Institute of Sport, the Melbourne Demons Football Club and Melbourne Storm Rugby Club.    She has completed a Masters in Musculoskeletal and Sports Physiotherapy as well as a Masters in Exercise Science (Strength and Conditioning). She has also completed a Clinical Doctorate of Physiotherapy and recently completed a PhD in Injury Prevention in high level team sports. Paula is also undertaking a master’s in clinical epidemiology.   Some of the key topics we cover in this episode;   Health is a platform for performance Performance health is not just for athletes Nutrition and sleep are critical pillars for performance The importance of having a plan around your nutrition and sleep Bone health, and how quickly this can be impacted with as little as 5 days of imbalance between energy requirements and energy availability   Resources Paula Charlton on Twitter - @PaulaC_Charlton International Olympic Committee consensus statement on youth athletic development Injury Prevention Programs FIFA 11+ Kids Netball Australia KNEE Program Rugby Union - Activate Program AFLW - Prep to Play Young Athlete Podcast youngathletepodcast.com   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook facebook.com/youngathletepodcast/   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic bounceclinic.com.au

Mr. Kieran Richardson (FACP) is a Specialist Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist (as awarded by the Australian College of Physiotherapists in 2016) who provides ACL tear non-surgical management opinion, education and treatment for patients on a weekly basis, both in his home town of Perth, Western Australia, but also nationally and internationally through online platforms. Kieran has successfully managed paediatric clients with full thickness ACL tears non-surgically to return to high-level sports, as well as patients from the general population and paid-athletes.   He has lectured at state and national conferences in Australia on ACL tear non-surgical management, and also runs national workshops on the topic to Heath Care Professionals.   Kieran is the Director of Global Specialist Physiotherapy, a consultancy service of academics, researchers and educators that provide formal mentoring, latest evidence professional development and second opinions for complex patient presentations to private practices in Australia and abroad.     In this episode we cover; "The Australian Experience" of ACL injury management vs the US and Scandinavian approach to ACL injury management Why does it matter how we manage ACL injuries here in Australia The culture of ACL injury management in Australia Why its important to get the young athlete to commit to their rehab What is world's best practice in the management of ACL injuries

Dr Loretta O'Sullivan-Pippia is a Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist. Loretta established Twelve9teen Sports Physiotherapy in 2009 - a practice dedicated to young athletes.     Academically, Loretta holds a Bachelor in Physiotherapy, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy and a Doctorate of Clinical Physiotherapy. Her research at undergraduate level focussed on abdominal function; at post-graduate level on ankle injuries; and at Doctoral level on knee cap pain in teenage girls. She has lectured extensively in Australia and overseas on sports rehabilitation, knee injuries and adolescents in sport.     Loretta has been working with sports teams and athletes since she graduated in 1993.  She has worked in a variety of sports including rugby union, netball, track and field, swimming, gymnastics, dance, hockey, football, tennis, along with many others.      Her clients have ranged from school and club teams/athletes through to international athletes, including Olympic gold medallists.  Many of the athletes Loretta worked with as junior athletes are now competing in the NRL and Super Rugby competitions.       In this episode we cover;   What is adolescence? How do we define adolescence? How important is adolescence in the lifespan as part of a young athlete's development What are the important parts of adolescent development The frustration young athletes can feel during adolescence The difference between paediatrics and adolescence The "athlete window" occurs for most people during adolescence Key injuries that occur frequently in the adolescent population They won't "just get better" because they are adolescents The importance for parents and coaches to work with practitioners who have a dedicated interest in adolescents Parents as load managers The balance between helping and enabling adolescents Stress and the impact on decision making and planning for adolescents Strategies to help young athletes manage training loads and rehabilitation Age of consent for young athletes - what is it? Does consent vary depending on the situation? Emerging trends in young athletes and injuries Long term impact of sports injuries in young athletes     Resources Dr Loretta O'Sullivan-Pippia twelev9teen Sports Physiotherapy   Infographics Concussion in sport - AIS/AMA Position Statement Early vs late sports specialisation in young athletes     Injury Prevention FIFA11+ Kids Netball Australia KNEE Program AFLW Prep to Play Rugby Union - Activate Program     Young Athlete Podcast youngathletepodcast.com   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook facebook.com/youngathletepodcast/   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic bounceclinic.com.au

​Dr Joanne Kemp is a Senior Research Fellow at the Latrobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Latrobe University, Australia. She is also a titled APA Sport & Exercise Physiotherapist of 25+ years’ experience, and still practices clinically on a weekly basis. She has 60+ peer-reviewed publications in hip pain (OA) in young and middle-aged adults, and the consequence of injury on joint health. She has received over $3 million in grant funding and has been awarded several prizes including best paper for Sports Physiotherapy Australia in 2015 and 2017. She is co-project lead for GLA:D Australia. Joanne has presented extensively on the management of hip pain and OA in Australia and internationally. She has a particular interest in non-surgical, exercise-based interventions that can slow the progression and reduce the symptoms associated with hip pain and OA. In this episode we cover;   Young athletes respond differently to adults Young athletes have immature skeletons, that changes as young athletes develop The shape of the hip bones can change depending on the loads we put through the hip We need to consider how much load we are subjected young athlete The importance of the growth plates - these are still open on growing young athletes We want young athletes to exercise and move in lots of different ways - not the same way all the time 2 main ways that hip pain generally develops in young athletes An outline of the key issues that can occur in young athletes and what to look for How long should you wait before you take your young athlete to a Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist When should you get imaging for hip pain? FAI - or FAI Syndrome, busting the myths about what it is and what it means How and why FAIS develops Are there particular sports that predispose young athletes to hip pain? The importance of parents as load managers Young athletes need an off-season from their main sport to change the loading in their hip Ask young athletes the question "Do you want this to be your career?"   Resources Dr Joanne Kemp Clinical Practice LaTrobe Sports & Exercise Medicine Research Centre Dr Joanne Kemp on Twitter   Young Athlete Podcast youngathletepodcast.com   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook facebook.com/youngathletepodcast/   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic bounceclinic.com.au  

Associate Professor Nic Gill Nic Gill is a professional strength and conditioning coach and consultant with huge expertise in rugby and other sports. He is a staff wellness and fitness consultant for a number of international corporate organisations and also to a limited number of individuals who take their own health and fitness seriously. He is best known for his work in rugby with 17 years working in the sport. For the last eleven years Nic has been the strength and conditioning coach for the New Zealand All Blacks, a period of international success for the team which has included more than 120 rugby test wins and the World Cup title in 2011 and 2015. Nic continues to study and research many areas of sports science at the University of Waikato, constantly refining and evolving his philosophy for being fit and healthy and having the 'winning edge' in life and in competition. He currently lives in Tauranga and is married with two children.  Nic, otherwise known as Gilly grows Avocados and Kiwifruit and tries to challenge himself every year with something that "gets him outta bed" to stay fit and healthy.     In this episode we cover;   What do the All Blacks do in preparation for a Test Match The importance of fun, doing the simple things well Filtering out the noise Consistency is key The link between fun and success The pitfalls of using elite training program models in young athlete programs Young athletes are not ready for programs modelled on professional programs High school is (unfortunately) the peak of many young athletes careers The responsibility of parents to help their young athletes be fit and healthy The importance of getting injuries right when they occur Nic's view on the pillars of young athlete development Parents as the glue in looking after their young athlete Avoid early sports specialisation for young athletes       Young Athlete Podcast youngathletepodcast.com   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook facebook.com/youngathletepodcast/   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic bounceclinic.com.au  

Jill Cook is a Professor in Musculoskeletal Health in the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre at La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia. Jill’s research areas include sports medicine and tendon injury. After completing her PhD in 2000, she has investigated tendon pathology, treatment options and risk factors for tendon injury. Jill currently supplements her research by conducting a specialist tendon practice and by lecturing and presenting workshops both in Australia and overseas. We are very pleased to present one of the world's foremost experts in tendon injury.   In this episode we cover; What is a tendinopathy? How is this different to tendinitis? Do tendons need imaging, like MRI or ultrasound? The value of a great practitioner in managing tendon injuries How do the symptoms of tendinopathy develop? Are tendon injuries are big issues in young athletes? Are there particular times in a young athletes development when they are more at risk of tendon injuries? What are "safe" loads to avoid tendon injuries Monitoring loads and loading to help identify tendon injuries What are the implications for young athletes once they have a tendon injury? Do all tendon injuries get treated the same way? The importance of good strength and capacity to protect young athletes from tendon injury Young athletes tendons have a high healing potential What is the healing capacity of tendons once they are an issue? Should tendons be injected? How does managing a tendinopathy differ in season vs off season? What keeps Jill Cook awake at night - what's next in the research and what we are trying to figure out The young athlete should be at the centre of managing tendon injuries

Dr. Guri Ekås is an orthopedic surgeon and sports physician specializing in knee injuries. Guri combines clinical and academic work, with a focus on the knee joint and ACL injuries, particularly in the pediatric population.   She works as a consultant at Akershus University Hospital in Norway. Guri finalized her PhD in June 2019: “Long-term outcomes after ACL injury during childhood” and is currently waiting for the defense. As part of this project, she has conducted clinical, functional and radiological follow-up of 50 young adults who have sustained an ACL injury during childhood.   Guri participated at the recent 2018 IOC Consensus statement on Management of Pediatric ACL injuries. She and her co-workers have also performed a systematic review on secondary meniscal injuries after ACL injury. Furthermore, she has been involved in sports medicine since 2010, working as a team physician for soccer, cycling and skiing.   She is currently team physician for the national ski jumping teams in Norway. Her affiliations are Akershus University hospital, University of Oslo and Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre (OSTRC). In this episode we cover; How big an issue are ACL injuries in young athletes How big an impact can an ACL injury have on young athletes What is the current evidence for ACL injury management in young athletes? Can young athletes cope without an ACL? The value of injury prevention programs to reduce ACL injury What are the treatment options for young athletes that have an ACL injury Do all young athletes need to have an ACL reconstruction How many young athletes can cope without an ACL? Should I complete a period of rehab first, or have an immediate ACL reconstruction What unique considerations are their for young athletes having an ACL reconstruction What is the re-injury rate for young athletes that have an ACL reconstruction The importance of early review when your young athlete injures their knee Meniscus injuries in young athletes have a high healing potential Every single knee injury is different in each young athlete Non surgical management of ACL injury with high quality, structured rehab is a good option for young athletes The critical importance of rehabilitation in ACL injury management Rehab programs need to be developed specifically for your young athlete Incorporating rehab in school and sport - Young athletes can complete rehab with their team Managing social isolation in young athletes Recommendations on Return to Sport after your ACL injury

Dr Andrea Mosler is an Australian Specialist Sports Physiotherapist who consults at the AIS in Canberra.  She is also an NHMRC Research Fellow at the Latrobe Sports and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, where she is currently working on hip-related groin pain, injury prevention, and women in sport research projects. She is also and mother of 2 active boys! Andrea really has had an amazing career to date Andrea was a clinician at the Australian Institute of Sport from 1995-2013, working mainly with Australian water polo and gymnastics and was the Sports medicine coordinator for National Women’s Water Polo for seven years.  She has been an Australian team physiotherapist at many sporting events including the 2000, 2004 and 2008 Olympics Games. Andrea completed her PhD at Aspetar over in Qatar, investigating the risk factors for hip and groin pain in professional football players.  She also works as a Senior Physiotherapist and Head of CME/CPD at Aspetar.  Andrea has a unique perspective to share here today,  She has a foot in 3 camps, not 2! As a parent of 2 teenage boys As a Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist As a researcher and academic n this episode we cover; What is a Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist How a Specialist Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist can help in the management and care of young athletes Detraining is a factor to watch out for when recovering from an injury Physical and psychological readiness to go back to sport Complete rest should not be prescribed when recovering from injuries There is plenty of other things you can do to stay active during the rehab period Organised sport should not be the cornerstone of physical activity Incidental activity and free play appear to be important in the overall physical development and being more robust Young athletes need to move more to help prevent injuries The value of injury prevention programs What sort of injury prevention programs are out there What is the difference between injury prevention programs High performance and reducing injury are aiming for the same thing  

How much, how hard, how often? Are our young athletes doing too much - how do we as parents and coaches manage this? In this episode we interview Dr Tim Gabbett - International Sports Consultant.   Dr Tim Gabbett has over 20 years experience working as an applied sport scientist with athletes and coaches from wide range of sports. He holds a PhD in Human Physiology (2000) and has completed a second PhD in the Applied Science of Professional Football (2011), with special reference to physical demands, injury prevention, and skills acquisition. Tim has worked with elite international athletes over several Commonwealth Games (2002 and 2006) and Olympic Games (2000, 2004 and 2008) cycles. He continues to work as a sport science and coaching consultant for several high performance teams around the world. Tim has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and has presented at over 200 national and international conferences. He is committed to performing world-leading research than can be applied in the "real world" to benefit high performance coaches and athletes. Having a world class professional in this space to talk about his experiences and insights is simply awesome. Standby for a huge number of tricks and tips!   In this episode we cover; What is "Load Management" Loading at the right times, and unloading at the right times Load Management IS NOT about doing less You have to prepare for what you are about to do Your ability to handle training loads depends on what you have been doing Load is lots of different things (physical, mental, school, social media etc) Adaptation occurs in the recovery period The importance of sleep - THIS IS CRITICAL The importance of the discipline of training - it's not just the training session! You don't need alot of money to nail load management and get the best out of athletic performance and well being The parent as the load manager, or performance manager The importance of sampling lots of different sports and avoiding early specialisation Beware if you are competing more than you are training, or there are large spikes in training Key warning signs to look for in the management of your young athlete Tips on how to plan the year to allow for competition, school, social activities An insight from Tim on how he learned to train Helping our young athletes learn how to train Young athletes will tell you how they are coping with their sport(s) What sort of indicators your young athletes will give you if they are not tolerating Give young athletes enough time to recover Young athletes will self select in terms of physical activity There is no such thing as an elite 10 year old Some young athletes are more robust than others   Resources ​ Dr Tim Gabbett https://gabbettperformance.com.au   Young Athlete Podcast https://www.youngathletepodcast.com/   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youngathletepodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/youngathletepodcast/   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic https://bounceclinic.com.au/     Young Athlete Podcast -  Scott Wilson        

There isn’t a single parent or coach out there that doesn’t want the very best for their young athlete or athletes.  So, to that end - how do you be the best sporting parent, or coach that you can?   Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could get a backstage pass and understand young athletes a little better?   In this episode we interview Stephen Rendall - he is a sports psychologist and works across a range of sports and in private practice.   Currently he works for the North Melbourne Kangaroos in the AFL, Barwon Sports Academy, West Vic Sports Academy and also works in private practice. Stephen has also worked with;   Maribyrnong Sports Academy Calder Cannons TAC Club Melbourne Victory Women’s Team Victorian Diving Association   As a result of his work, young athletes and helping them and their parents achieve their best performance, on and off the field has become a special interest for him.   In this episode we cover;   How crucial is it to be a good sporting parent Be a "good enough" sporting parent - it's not about being perfect Well meaning efforts from parents and coaches that aren't as helpful as you think How critical parents are to young athletes success The relationship with mum & dad Key areas of the young, developing brain are more active than in adults Parents and coaches are important in helping to regulate emotion Young athletes are interpretation machines and can read our responses very well Young athletes are not little adults - there are some big differences in brain function and development The Amygdala is a part of the brain that young athletes filter information through and is quite reactive, and is based around a fear and threat response. In adults we filter information through the Hippocampus - we can mediate information more rationally. Young athletes can be much more reactive and emotional at times Young people process information through a different filter - when it gets active, it also needs lots of blood flow. Young athletes have a brain under construction - sometimes they will do things really well, and other times not well at all. Every 3 years from age 1 to 12 the left & right side of the brain change in terms of which side is more active From age 12-24 both sides of the brain develop at the same time The importance of understanding why your young athlete is playing their sport, what goals they have around playing Parents, coaches and young athletes all need to be on the same page in terms of why they play their sport and what they want to get out of it. Ways to motivate and support your young athlete and keep them on track Pre Competition Strategies to help support your young athlete During the Game Strategies to help support your young athlete Post Game Strategies to help support your young athlete The Mirror Neuron Effect The importance of coach and parent giving the same message. Coaches need to get parents involved in the game plan. Parents will be doing "secondary coaching" at home Young athletes are worried about letting people down The importance of praising for EFFORT rather than performance   Resources   Stephen Rendall Corio Bay Health Websites https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/knowledge_base/sport_participation/community_engagement/engaging_parents_in_sport http://ilovetowatchyouplay.com/ http://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/top_10_tips_for_parents   Books Changing the game: The Parent’s Guide to Raising Happy, High Performing Athletes and Giving Youth Sports Back to our Kids. John O’Sullivan Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain. Daniel J. Siegel Parenting from the Inside Out: How a Deeper Self-Understanding can Help you Raise Children who Thrive. Daniel J. Siegel & Mary Hartzell The Talent Code: Greatness isn't Born it’s Grown. Daniel Coyle Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice. Matthew Syed Bouncing Back: Rewiring your brain for maximum resilience and well-being. Linda Graham   Young Athlete Podcast https://www.youngathletepodcast.com/   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youngathletepodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/youngathletepodcast/   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic https://bounceclinic.com.au/     Young Athlete Podcast -  Scott Wilson        

In this episode we interview a parent about the experience for the family when a young athlete is injured for an extended period. When your young athlete gets injured the impact is not just on the athlete, the whole family is impacted.  Last show we had the excellent Dr Etienne Du Preez and following on from this, I was keen to interview a parent to share their experience and insights. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, there are plenty of times we wish we had it - hopefully you, or someone you know can benefit from today’s show and this parent’s experience and insight.   Throughout their childhood, it is never fun when a your kids get sick or injured. As parents you can ride every bump and scrape and the various coughs, colds and infections they get as they grow up.  When they get injured playing or training in the sport that they love doing, it can be a very tough time for everyone. Not just the injured athlete, the family can very much ride the highs and lows as well.   Here's what we discuss in this episode:   History of evolution of the low back stress fracture in their young athlete How they felt as parents when the diagnosis was initially confirmed The surprise on reflection, about an injury that really snuck up on the athlete and the family The difficulty in initially reconciling the seriousness of the injury as it developed over time The importance of listening to your young athlete if they are consistently reporting pain or dysfunction A parent's regret in hindsight Low back stress fractures are a really common injury The importance in thinking about "training load" Keep in mind how much, how hard, how often your young athletes are exercising All activity needs to be logged and recorded How tough the whole family found it, in the initial stages where their young athlete couldn't train or play  The issues they saw around socialisation, school work and academic progress during the period of injury The mental side of injury management, is just as important and the physical side Post injury what changes The emphasis on what you CAN do in rehab, as opposed to what you CAN'T How beneficial it is to treat a young athlete like a professional athlete The improvements they have seen in their young athlete, in terms of resilience If they had their time again, what would they do differently The importance of making a formal plan and structure for young athletes when they are injured   Resources  Exercise Log/History for download       Injury Prevention   FIFA11+ Kids https://www.fifamedicinediploma.com/lessons/prevention-fifa11-kids/   Netball Australia Knee Program https://knee.netball.com.au/     Young Athlete Podcast https://www.youngathletepodcast.com/   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youngathletepodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/youngathletepodcast/   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic https://bounceclinic.com.au/     Young Athlete Podcast -  Scott Wilson          

Dr Gooden is a fellowship trained Orthopaedic Surgeon who specialises in surgery of the hip and knee and Orthopaedic trauma. In this episode we talk about the swollen knee, a common condition that most young athletes will experience at some point.   A swollen knee can happen for a variety of reasons and is often managed fairly simply, however, sometimes it can be a more significant issue that requires further review and treatment.    Here’s what we discuss in this episode: Do swollen knees differ in presentation according to the age of the young athlete? Has there been some sort of event that has caused the knee to swell? Could this swelling be because of some other condition such as arthritis? What types of structures could be injured to cause the knee to swell? How soon after an injury where the knee swells should I seek treatment from a physio or Dr? What sorts of things can help parents or coaches to decide if you should be seen immediately or you can wait a few days? Should I get an x-ray, MRI or ultrasound of the knee? CT scans of the knee should be avoided unless the need for this is explained very clearly Swelling in the knee, is the knee’s cry for help – often this will settle We talk about management of the swollen knee and where parents and coaches are best placed to get help for their young athletes. A Physiotherapist or Sports Physician is often a good first port of call before seeing an orthopaedic surgeon Orthopaedic Surgeons are also able to be used as an expert review as part of a team Rare – but more serious knee issues that present as swollen knees When should you use painkillers or anti-inflammatories? The importance of managing the training loads of your young athlete How challenging is it to teach perspective to young athletes about making decisions on their injury for their long term health Encouraging young athletes to not push through injuries Does the management of the swollen knee change with the truly elite young athlete? What is the value of the various injury prevention programs that are out there?   Resources   Dr Ben Gooden http://www.bengooden.com.au/dr-benjamin-gooden/   Injury Prevention   FIFA11+ Kids https://www.fifamedicinediploma.com/lessons/prevention-fifa11-kids/   Netball Australia Knee Program https://knee.netball.com.au/   CT Scans and Radiation Exposure https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ctscansforkids https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ct-scans-for-parents-and-carers   Young Athlete Podcast https://www.youngathletepodcast.com/   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youngathletepodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/youngathletepodcast/   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic https://bounceclinic.com.au/     Young Athlete Podcast -  Scott Wilson        

Dr Etienne Du Preez is a Sports Physician based in Sydney. In this episode we talk about low back or lumbar spine stress fractures. What this injury is, how to best manage and treat a low back stress fracture, and the long-term implications of this injury.   Here’s what we discuss in this episode:   What is a Sports Physician and what do they do? Lumbar spine stress fractures are more than just one condition How common are lumbar spine stress fractures? How normal is it for young people to have back pain? What % of young athletes will experience a lumbar spine stress fracture? How concerned should I be as a parent if my young athlete has a stress fracture? What are the long-term implications of lumbar spine stress fractures? How long does a lumbar spine stress fracture take to heal? The impact of this injury on the injured young athlete and their families Ways of helping injured young athletes cope If my son/daughter tells me they have a sore back what is a good way to manage this? Do I need to go straight to a physio or GP? Initial management strategies when you have a young athlete with a sore back When to look for assessment and treatment from a practitioner Should I get an x-ray for low back pain in young athlete? If the x-ray is clear, are we in the clear? As a coach, what things should I keep in mind to look after the young athletes? As a coach, what things do I keep in mind if I have an athlete who has had a stress fracture previously? The critical importance of coaches in the prevention and management of stress fractures 5 key things that can relate or contribute to stress fractures How much do growth spurts or growing pains contribute to stress fractures Load Management – How much, how hard, how often young athletes are training and playing Parents pivotal role in managing the load of young athletes The importance of sleep and the concept of sleep hygiene Playing a wide variety of sports is better for young athletes overall development vs early specialisation in 1 sport only early in their life   Resources   Dr Etienne Du Preez Stadium Sports Medicine Clinic North Sydney Sports Medicine   CT Scans and Radiation Exposure https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ctscansforkids https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/ct-scans-for-parents-and-carers   Young Athlete Podcast https://www.youngathletepodcast.com/   Young Athlete Podcast https://www.youngathletepodcast.com/   Young Athlete Podcast on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/youngathletepodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/youngathpodcast   Young Athlete Podcast on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/youngathletepodcast/   Bounce Physiotherapy | Bounce Exercise Clinic https://bounceclinic.com.au/     Young Athlete Podcast -  Scott Wilson