INJURY PREVENTION IS IMPORTANT

Injury prevention in sport – this is an athlete’s primary task.

All over the world, sport has the power to inspire and unite people and to provide entertainment. Whether you are a professional athlete, a weekend recreational athlete or a young athlete just starting out, you all have one thing in common – injuries are part of your “game”
Avoiding injuries is not a matter of convenience, it is a critical part of an athlete’s well-being and performance.
Being able to be in the big game and to stay there throughout the whole season is extremely important both for the athlete and for the whole team, in the case of team sports.

In this blog post, we delve into the importance of injury prevention in sport, highlighting its far-reaching impact on athletes, teams and the sports community as a whole.

Preserving an athlete’s career from a young age

The most important reason for making injury prevention a priority is its role in preserving athletes’ careers. Many do not realise that sports injuries begin at a very young age. One theory is that children take part in sport all year round with excessive specialisation [hele spordialale v]in one sport/element and do not take part in other sports. This can cause a number of recurring overuse injuries, which in the future may lead to even more serious injuries. Studies have shown that participation in preventive training programmes, promoting healthy sleep habits, and doing several sports with sufficient rest and recovery time have a direct effect on preventing injuries

For many athletes, their sport is not just a hobby but rather a way of life and a source of income. Minor injuries can affect an entire season, and more serious problems often end a whole career. By implementing injury prevention measures, athletes can significantly reduce this risk and end their sporting career at a time that suits them, rather than on the urgent advice of an orthopaedist.
Injury prevention benefits not only the athletes themselves but also the fans and organisations that depend on their talents.

Improving performance

Injury prevention is not only about avoiding setbacks and breaks in training; it is also about increasing performance. When athletes are free from injuries or their risk of injury is lower, they can train more consistently and effectively.

For example, some players in the professional basketball league have played for many years and still train like they did in their rookie year. They have said that they spend “a million dollars” on their bodies to stay healthy. They have avoided major injuries that could have led to a lost season or ruined their careers. And one of the most effective ways of keeping their bodies healthy and protecting the most injury-prone areas of the body is the preventive use of orthoses and supports.

With focus, will and a plan, athletes can push their limits and strive for higher goals, knowing that their bodies are more resilient to the strain.

Promoting long-term health and reducing healthcare costs

The long-term health of athletes should always be the top priority. Injuries sustained during a sporting career can have a lasting impact on a person’s health and quality of life.

Chronic pain, limited mobility and long-term deteriorated health conditions are just some of the consequences that athletes may face if injuries are not prevented or properly treated.

Injury prevention measures such as proper preparation, strength training and recovery techniques can contribute significantly to an athlete’s long career.

When it comes to athletes’ injuries, it is not only long-term health that is a concern; reducing healthcare costs is also one of the important metrics in the field of sport. Sports injuries often bring significant healthcare costs, from medical treatment to rehabilitation. And these costs can often grow very large.

At large clubs and universities, where there are large programmes, budgets and infrastructure in place, treatment and recovery are more thorough, but smaller schools / clubs work with smaller budgets, which often affects the athlete. By investing in injury prevention strategies, sports organisations and athletes can save millions on medical costs. The money saved can be directed towards improving training facilities, equipment and athlete development programmes.

Supports for injury prevention?

If you have ever watched a professional football game (American football is meant here), you will notice that all the offensive players wear knee braces. Why do all the offensive players wear supports?

It has been found that when offensive players wear knee braces that allow movement, they significantly reduce the risk of knee injury. Offensive players are in constant fear of opposing players running into their legs, as a result of which knee injuries come easily. So it makes perfect sense to use knee supports to prevent injuries.

NBA basketball is another sport where great attention is paid to injury prevention and, accordingly, many supports are used to prevent injuries. For example, Trae Young has worn the Zamst A2-DX ankle brace for the last 5 years, and Trae Young has not missed a single game due to injury in the last 5 seasons.
One of the best volleyball players of all time, Wilfredo Leon, has used knee supports for years and stayed healthy. He has said: “I can give 100%, do it without worrying that something might go wrong”

Promoting a safety culture

Finally, prioritising injury prevention in sport fosters a culture of safety. It sends the message that injuries are not inevitable but preventable. This change in mindset encourages athletes, coaches and organisations to constantly look for ways to minimise risks and ensure the safety of all participants. A safety culture benefits not only athletes but all participants involved in sport.

Injury prevention in sport is not a luxury; it is an opportunity for everyone. It affects athletes at all levels, from young hopefuls starting their journey to experienced professionals at the peak of their careers. By focusing on injury prevention, we can support athletes’ careers, increase performance, reduce healthcare costs and promote long-term careers. In addition, it sends the important message that safety comes first. As we continue to develop our knowledge and practices in injury prevention, we can look forward to a future where athletes can develop and compete at the highest level while minimising the risk of serious injuries.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
EVAN JEFFRIES is a physiotherapist with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. He is also the owner of Evolving Motion Physical Therapy and has extensive knowledge of the musculoskeletal system. He has treated many orthopaedic problems, taking a proactive approach to health and lifestyle. Recently he has also been active as an injury analyst on social media, mainly in relation to injuries sustained by NBA players. You can follow Evan on his social media accounts.

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