Objectives

  • Define the terms pediatric athlete, adolescent athlete, Masters athlete, and Senior athlete.
  • Describe issues unique to the immature athlete (child and adolescent), including bone development, psychology, and parental involvement.
  • Contrast concussion management in pediatric athletes and mature athletes.
  • Compare and contrast physiologic and performance characteristics between male and female athletes in pre-adolescence and post-adolescence.
  • List pediatric musculoskeletal pathologies that occur in relation to sport participation.
  • Describe natural changes that occur in athletic performance throughout the lifespan.
  • Identify peak years for muscular strength, endurance, pulmonary and cardiac function.
  • Identify several common injuries and issues typical in weekend warrior athletes.
  • Relate joint injury, prior surgery and osteochondral pathology to early (<age 50) incidence of total joint replacement in athletes.
  • Differentiate by sport type, activities suitable for those with total joint replacement as suggested by the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons.
  • Compare and contrast flexibility, strength, balance and motor control by decade, and offer systems-based rationale for these changes.
  • Suggest several forms of appropriate exercise for those with osteoarthritis in weight-bearing joints.
  • Suggest performance alterations to golf for those with total joints.
  • Compare and contrast rehabilitation considerations for pediatric, adult, and senior athletes.
  • Offer a framework for safe and appropriate return to sport for athletes of all ages.
  • Evaluate differences in time to return to sport/athletics between younger and older athletes.