Episode 38: Alex & Elise (Mother/Daughter duo, Former competitive swimmer who suffered a major blood clot in her arm)

In this episode, we hear the powerful and eye-opening story of Elise and her mother, Alex, who went through a major health scare when Elise suffered from a blood clot caused by repetitive motion in competitive swimming.

🔹 The Toll of Intense Training – Competitive swimmers can practice up to 7 times a week, often for multiple hours a day. Elise’s story highlights the physical strain that many young athletes face with demanding schedules.

🔹 A Relevant and Urgent Topic – March is Blood Clot Awareness Month, and with NBA superstar Victor Wembanyama’s recent injury due to a blood clot in his shoulder, the topic couldn’t be more timely.

🔹 The Consequences of Early Specialization – Early sports specialization is creating long-term health risks for young athletes. Overuse injuries and conditions like blood clots are becoming increasingly common in sports that require repetitive motions, like swimming, baseball, and volleyball.

🔹 The Risk of Overuse Injuries – Elise & Alex share how repetitive upper-arm and shoulder motions can be particularly dangerous, and how young athletes in these sports are especially vulnerable to overuse injuries and blood clots.

🔹 Recognizing the Warning Signs – Elise and Alex are on a mission to raise awareness. They help educate athletes, parents, coaches, and trainers on the warning signs of blood clots and how to create safer environments for youth athletes.

🔹 The Surprising Stats – Did you know that 70% of blood clots are provoked and not related to underlying health issues? Pediatric doctors are starting to see more cases of blood clots in young athletes, raising alarm in the medical community.

🔹 Elise’s Cautionary Tale – Elise’s journey is a powerful reminder: It’s okay to take breaks. It’s okay to speak up when something feels wrong. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s not always the best idea to specialize and overdo training at young ages.

If you’re a coach, parent, or young athlete, this episode is essential listening to ensure safety and longevity in youth sports.

-Resources for more information regarding athletes and blood clots:

-https://swimswam.com/thoracic-outlet-syndrome/

-https://www.stoptheclot.org/about-clots/athletes-and-blood-clots/

https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/youth_sports_specialization_recommendations.pdf