In sports, injuries are common, whether at the amateur or professional level.
The severity level of sports injuries moves on a decidedly wide scale ranging from mild contractures and hematomas to injuries or fractures of varying degrees.
In many cases, the ultimate injury results from micro trauma due to the mechanical stress to which specific body parts are repeatedly subjected. For example, this is the case of the bones and ligaments of the lower limbs, for those who practice running, or of the shoulder musculature, for those who engage in swimming.
Today, thanks to technology, it is possible to prevent these injuries or, at least, it can help resolve them more quickly.
Competitive sports: how does technology help sports?
In general, we can say that technology today can help athletes in the following ways:
1. Performance monitoring: devices such as smartwatches and fitness bracelets allow performance to be monitored during training and competition, recording data such as heart rate, speed, distance traveled, and calories burned. So, the data of these devices can be analyzed to identify strengths and weaknesses and plan training more precisely in order to pervert weird sports injury.
2. Virtual Reality: virtual reality is also becoming increasingly popular in sports, offering the ability to simulate real game situations and improve athletes' mental preparedness. For example, soccer players can use virtual reality to practice penalty kicks or to improve spatial perception.
3. Training management apps: Many apps help athletes manage training by providing customized programs, nutrition and recovery tips, and performance analysis. Some apps can recognize exercises performed and check for correct execution, providing immediate feedback.
4. Wearable technologies: wearable devices such as wireless earbuds and smart glasses allow athletes to listen to music, get instructions from coaches, and view helpful information during training and competition without interrupting activity.
5. Tools for diagnosis and recovery: professional athletes can use advanced tools for injury diagnosis and recovery, such as MRI and shockwave therapy. In addition, there are devices such as electronic massagers and therapeutic bandages that amateur athletes can also use to prevent and treat injuries.
Powerset Pro: A dedicated app for professional athletes
About competitive sports, technology has advanced so much that today it is also possible to be able to prevent injuries thanks to the Powerset Pro platform, currently used in trials for professional athletes in any sport and designed precisely to integrate structure, function, and historical data in the assessment of injury risk reduction.
Powerset Pro provides medical and fitness questionnaires and can draw up training plans remotely. The professional team in charge of the proper operation of the App includes data scientists, UI/UX designers, and professionals in the elite sports sector, with the support of a Scientific Committee composed of internationally established.
The platform is already being used in trials by several major soccer clubs, but also by some NBA franchises, which in recent years have been focusing on injury prevention for performance improvement. Just think of the last Finals, won by Golden State, thanks in part to the return to the top condition of Klay Thompson, who was forced to sit out for 941 days due to two serious ACL and Achilles tendon injuries.
Three tips to prevent muscle and bone injuries
The fact that technology can help prevent injuries is extremely useful and important.
But how can we directly avoid injury by making our bodies stronger and healthier?
1. Drink plenty of water to prevent injuries
Dehydration is one of the most common causes of sports injury because dehydrated tissues tend to injure more easily.
The first helpful measure to avoid muscle damage is to drink water regularly, even when the thirst urge is not pressing.
Thirst, which also increases during physical activity due to natural sweating, indicates that the physiological process of dehydration is taking place.
So, running for cover is easy. Always keep a water bottle filled with natural water or your favorite flavored water on hand.
2. Consume dried fruits and foods with polyphenols, proteins, and vitamins
During physical activity, the body excretes toxins and essential nutrients through perspiration and sweating.
During main meals and various breaks throughout the day, the consumption of foods, such as Dried Nuts and Dried Fruits, allows you to replenish minerals, fiber, and vitamins quickly.
Large (Assorted Dried Fruits) and small (Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds, etc.) oil seeds boast good percentages of calcium, which is essential for bone health.
Safe sun exposure also contributes to bone health: it is a simple act that helps the body produce and synthesize Vitamin D.
3. Avoid or reduce the consumption of inflammatory foods
Some foods have a specific inflammatory power; that is, they are harmful to the body significantly.
Some sausages, salt, red meat, alcohol, vegetable oils (excluding extra virgin olive oil), and dairy fats are considered inflammatory foods.
Sportspeople should eat this kind of food sporadically to avoid exposing the body to chronic diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity) and physical injury risk.
For example, eating without added salt, preferring plant-based spice seasonings, reducing and managing the consumption of carbohydrates, sugars, and fried dishes, and avoiding refined, pre-cooked, and pre-packaged industrial foods are seemingly simple gestures.
In conclusion, as they limit the introduction of saturated fats into the body, these are food choices that contribute significantly to "flushing out" the body, counteracting the increase in fatty tissue and bad cholesterol, reducing the effect of sports injuries, and aiding recovery time in case of accidents.
