The walking wounded

As I watched endless football this past weekend I couldn't help but notice something...

and when I went online this morning it confirmed my thoughts.

During the games this weekend, unfortunately I saw a bunch of injuries. However, there was one common injury I saw a number of times not just this past weekend, but throughout this past preseason too.

The Dreadful Knee injury.

And when I went online this morning I saw an article that summed it up...It was called "The walking wounded"

Ouch...

I know we all heard about Brady, but did you know Vince Young of the Titans, Maurice Morris & Nate Burleson of the Seahawks also sustained what could be season ending injuries?

On top of that from the beginning of this years pre-season until the end of week one there have been a reported, over 200 injuries. Ready for this...

there has been 57 all involving the knee. 5 of which come from the Colts, and 7 coming from the Patriots.

Can You believe that?

Close to 30% of all reported injuries involve some form of knee injury, and close to 20% come from just 2 teams (Superbowl bound teams).

Now I know of the Strength and Conditioning Coaches for both the Colts & The Patriots and think they have done a great job in prepping their players for play. However, I do know that the New England Patriots have a machine based in-season training program. Do you think this could have something to do with these knee problems?

Maybe. Maybe not? Maybe these injuries were contact related injuries (like Tom Brady's), or could part of it be due to a machine based training program.

Who knows?

But I do know this! A good solid strength & conditioning program that reduces the likely hood of injury should not include machine based protocols. Think about it - when you use a machine your body doesn't have to stabilize itself, that's what the machine is doing, thus allowing you to handle more weight. More weight that you body can't handle when on the field I bet.

Instead, A good injury preventing program should incorporate good old strength training, combined with individualized programming that focuses on one's weaknesses (see my Assessment post here). It should incorporate proper movement mechanics, flexibility, mobility, stability, speed, and strength, as well as programmed injury prevention techniques and recovery/regeneration strategies.

Check back later this week . I will post the last part of our eat to compete series as well as part 2 of my "Top 10 ways to increase your sports performance" series. It will reveal how we incorporate movement mechanics, flexibility, mobility, and balance & stability into our programs

here at Optimal Performance.

Talk to ya soon

JZ

ps - go JETS