Statistics
Statistics are important to sports fans. Sometime I think that baseball fans like the statistics more than the actual sport. Statistics are also important for Sports Medicine practitioners and active athletes. Tracking trends in injuries can help in the treatment and prevention of many common ailments. It is also important to track those risk factors that predispose people toward acute, chronic and overuse type injuries.
One of the goals of the Winter or “off season” training period is to strengthen those weaknesses that may tend to cause injury or hamper performance during the “peak” or racing season. For example, I regularly do one-legged stationary cycling in the winter in order to develop the full circular motion of correct cycling biomechanics. I also work on lower leg strength and stability with a BOSU, tilt board or other balance enforcing equipment. Strengthening my ankles, tendons and ligaments over the years has lead to a reduction of sprains, strains, tears and “down time” during the competitive season. For an excellent graph of common running injuries and discussion of risk factors, see, “A Quick Look At Running Injuries written for Podiatry Management Magazine for practitioners and students” from Dr. Pribut’s Running Injuries Page. Dr. Stephen M. Pribut has a Podiatric Medicine and Surgery practice in Washington, D.C.