Sport activities for children and adolescents: the Position of the European Academy of Paediatrics and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians 2023—Part 1. Pre-participation physical evaluation in young athletes

Abstract

The European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP) emphasize the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles within the pediatric population. Many health professionals have questions concerning adequate levels of physical activity for both the healthy pediatric population and for those who may have specific complications. Unfortunately, the academic literature that provides recommendations for participation in sport activities within the pediatric population that have been published during the last decade in Europe is limited and is mainly dedicated to specific illnesses or advanced athletes and not toward the general population. The aim of part 1 of the EAP and ECPCP position statement is to assist healthcare professionals in implementing the best management strategies for a pre-participation evaluation (PPE) for participation in sports for individual children and adolescents. In the absence of a uniform protocol, it is necessary to respect physician autonomy for choosing and implementing the most appropriate and familiar PPE screening strategy and to discuss the decisions made with young athletes and their families. This first part of the Position Statement concerning Sport Activities for Children and Adolescents is dedicated to healthy young athletes.

Prevalence of injuries and training correlates in Brazilian young rhythmic gymnastics athletes

“…the practice of sports at young ages has increased in recent decades [1]. this phenomenon is not surprising, given the evidence of its benefits to the physical and psychosocial health of children and adolescents [2]. In this context, rhythmic gymnastics has been widely accepted among girls, gaining popularity worldwide, translating into rapid growth in participation rates [3].…”

Right Ventricular Structure and Function in Adolescent Athletes: A 3D Echocardiographic Study

“…Recent data show that cardiac remodelling appears early after the initiation of exercise training -irrespective of age and sex [7]. Thus, pre-participation screening should be conducted at even younger ages bearing its additional confounding factors like sexual maturation, growth, and the increasing insufficiency of investigational methods used in adult cardiology [4,8].…”

Young basketball players have better manual dexterity performance than sportsmen and non-sportsmen of the same age: a cross-sectional study

“…There is now ample evidence of the beneficial effects of sports practice, especially in the early stages of life, on motor development and the maintenance of an adequate state of health 5 – 7 . However, the studies that associate physical activity or sports practice with the development of manual dexterity are conflicting in terms of results and, furthermore, it is not clear whether one sport can be more efficient than another.…”