Sports Survival Guide

with Dr. Tommy John

Why are sports injuries so common? How can we not only avoid injury, but maximize performance? Dr. Tommy John owns and runs the Dr. Tommy John Performance and Healing Center in San Diego and is the author of “Minimize Injury, Maximize Performance: A Sports Parent’s Survival Guide.” Today, he shares insights on what children–and athletes of all ages–can do to not merely survive, but thrive in the activity of their choice. He reviews a list of essentials for optimal health and he reminds us of the power we have to shape our own health and athletic performance. He covers what to do about cravings, how to nourish young athletes on the go, and how to learn to listen to our own intuition about what our bodies need most.

Notes:

Highlights from the conversation include:

background on his father, professional baseball player Tommy John
An explanation of Tommy John surgery
why is it becoming more common in young people
the injury epidemic
Why kids are so stressed about playing sports
What’s behind the youth sports industry complex
The essentials for optimal health and performance: which include movement, sunshine, breath, quality sleep and naps, nourishing foods and clean water.
How only a very small percentage of our health issues are genetic (only 2-4 %)
How we thrive when we give the body what it needs
Why this is especially true for children
The importance of intuition when it comes to eating and handling cravings
Why we must believe in the health protocol we are going to follow
Why avoiding antagonistic people/attitudes in our own life is helpful
How to begin to take ownership in your own health and athletic performance