The Young Athlete (PDF)

This essential new volume in the Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine
series, published under the auspices of the International Olympic
Committee, provides a thorough overview of the unique physiologic
characteristics, responsiveness to training, and possible health
hazards involved in the training, coaching, and medical care of
young athletes.

Intense involvement in competitive sports often begins during
childhood. During adolescence, many athletes reach their peak
performance and some may participate in World Championships and
Olympic Games at a relatively young age. The Young Athlete presents
the available information relevant to exercise and training in
youth, reviewed and summarized by authors who are recognized as
leaders in their respective fields.

The Young Athlete is subdivided into seven parts covering: the
physiologic bases of physical performance in view of growth and
development; trainability and the consequences of a high level of
physical activity during childhood and adolescence for future
health; the epidemiology of injuries, their prevention, treatment,
and rehabilitation; non-orthopedic health concerns including the
pre-participation examination; psychosocial issues relevant to
young athletes; diseases relevant to child and adolescent athletes;
the methodology relevant to the assessment of young athletes.

This valuable reference summarizes a large database of
information from thousands of studies and is especially relevant to
sports physicians, pediatricians, general practitioners, physical
therapists, dietitians, coaches, students, and researchers in the
exercise sciences.