Supporting Adolescent Athletes During the Summer of Sport

Understanding the Adolescent Athlete 

BCA chiropractors are well-positioned to enhance adolescent sports care through prevention, performance optimisation, and rehabilitation.

Adolescents (11-23 depending on the sport) are not simply small adults; they are navigating a critical phase of musculoskeletal growth, hormonal change, and neuromuscular development. These shifts can increase susceptibility to injury, particularly under the stress of intensive training or competition. 

1. Early Screening and Injury Reduction 

A detailed case history combined with movement and postural assessments allows BCA chiropractors to identify maladaptive patterns, imbalances, and restrictions. These insights inform preventative strategies. Working with parents and coaches, chiropractors can help manage training loads and recommend exercise programmes (e.g. FIFA 11+) to mitigate injury risk. 

2. Optimising Biomechanics 

Manual adjustments, soft tissue therapies, and neuromuscular retraining help restore optimal function and reduce compensatory patterns.

Particular attention to pelvic alignment during growth spurts and to knee and ankle stability is essential, especially for running and jumping sports. (Buppert S, et al. 2013). These interventions support safer, more efficient movement during peak activity periods. 

3. Injury Management 

Effective injury care begins with accurate diagnosis.  A thorough history helps uncover the mechanism, timeline, and context – whether the athlete is recreational, competitive or elite.  Understanding the athlete’s goals and workload is key. 

Frameworks like PEACE and LOVE (Dubois B, Esculier J-F, 2020) are commonly used for early-stage care in adolescent sport. Often in clinic we see athletes in the next phase of injury who would benefit from corrective work which may include hands on care, electrotherapy, taping and progressive rehabilitation. A coordinated approach with coaching staff to review technique and manage future load can help to prevent recurrence of an injury. Other pathways may warrant, age-appropriate imaging or referral to paediatric services.  

Common Adolescent Injuries 

4. Load Management 

Educating young athletes on training load and recovery is vital. BCA Chiropractors can offer guidance on periodisation, rest days, and recovery strategies. This includes advice on hydration, sleep, nutrition, and both warm-up and cool-down routines. These conversations are key to both injury prevention and performance sustainability. 

5. Managing Pressure and Expectations 

While the shine of marginal gains appears to be dimming, practical advice remains powerful especially in the summer heat.  Simple recommendations around sun protection, hydration, and rest can significantly reduce the risk of heat- related illness.  

Summer competition can be emotionally intense. A chiropractic visit may be the only time a young athlete is still and reflective. Adolescents often feel unheard when dealing with performance anxiety, perfectionism, and body image concerns. Chiropractors, especially when working with teams, provide a more pastoral role beyond MSK care, including safeguarding, emotional well-being and communication with families and coaches.  

For young players, such as a 12-year-old on a cricket tour, this may be their first experience away from home, testing routine, judgement and emotional resilience. Ensuring structured support and well-being is key to their performance and development. 

Conclusion 

The summer of sport is an exciting time, full of potential and pressure for adolescent athletes. BCA Chiropractors have a key role to play in helping young people move well, recover wisely, and build the confidence to enjoy lifelong participation in sport. Whether working with schools, sports clubs, or individuals, there are many ways for chiropractors to make a meaningful difference. By supporting adolescent athletes with insight and empathy, we can help them enjoy many successful summers of sport to come.

References