👣 NFL Dey Push to Cut Down Leg Injuries 🏈
⬇️ Pidgin ⬇️ ⬇️ Black American Slang ⬇️ English
For December 5, 2023, NFL Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Allen Sills, pull together panel of sharp brains make dem discuss how dem dey join hand with research to fight leg injuries. You fit catch di full gist for di webinar below.
Di panelists bin talk true-true about di headway dem don make for di last few years to really reduce leg injuries among NFL players, especially during preseason wey normally, na im injury wahala dey plenty. Dem also touch light on di work wey NFL-NFLPA Joint Surfaces Committee dey do for ground testing, plus how dem dey back new research into ground materials to make sure say fields dey consistent for players. 🏈🔬
Joining Dr. Sills for di chit-chat na:
- Mackenzie Herzog, wey be top dog for Injury Surveillance and Analytics Epidemiology for IQVIA
- Andre’ Tucker, Head Athletic Trainer for Chicago Bears
- Nick Pappas, wey dey handle fields for NFL
- Meade Spratley, Senior Researcher for Biocore LLC
Here na some koko points from di panel:
Dem talk say how you ready and train athletes fit really help bring down injury numbers:
Dr. Mackenzie Herzog yarn say, “To reduce injuries during training camp na correct move, e dey show say if you fit reduce injuries, your players go dey ready to hit di field. Di last five Super Bowl champs get few injuries year-over-year during training camp, wey show say di easy-does-it strategy no just dey reduce injury but e dey make sure say your players fit play when season start.” 🏋️♂️🚑
Andre’ Tucker drop say, “When we dey do non-contact warm-up… di thing be say, as we dey put on pads, we need to remember say e dey change di game level. So instead of just to continue with di same warm-up, e dey wise to take am easy small and almost start from scratch. I think say we, as clinicians or pros, sometimes no dey catch dis part – and na there we dey miss am. We think say after 4-5 days we don warm up, we fit just put shoulder pads and continue. But you need to know say as you don pads, e dey automatically change di game, so you now need to, as a clinician or coach, take am down a notch and warm up well now wey you don change di game level.” 🛑🏈
Bout di plenty things wey fit cause injury during game:
Dr. Meade Spratley talk say, “No be one thing dey do well for predicting injury. True-true, ground wey too hard na something we dey look out for because e fit add to injury risk. But di truth be say, ground fit hard and very bouncy, e fit soft and wet, e fit be di opposite of those, so you need to really consider plenty things, you no fit just focus on one thing.” 🌱📊
How dem dey ready players for different grounds and conditions every week:
Andre’ Tucker talk say, “E dey go back to di word I dey always use – learning. Myself, di gear crew, and performance squad go sit down talk about di upcoming playing ground depending on where we dey go play, wetin di weather go be, down South versus up North, whether indoor or outdoor – to figure out wetin di ground go be like and then how we go tell di players. And we dey try make sure say di team know dis early for di week.” 📚🌦️
On how ground management and regular care fit help make sure safety, performance, and same level play for field:
Nick Pappas talk say, “No be one size fit all, no one place dey same as di next. All of dem need different building work, different performance needs – di list long. You no fit just say you go put down fake grass and forget am.”
Dr. Meade Spratley add say, “We dey always talk say di best ground na di one wey dem dey look after well well. E clear say ground managers fit do plenty through their care work, shaping ground to get certain response.” 🌿🔧
Nick Pappas talk again say, “Fake grounds don become way more complex with different styles of fibers, types of fibers, how dense di fibers dey, weight of di stuff wey dem dey fill am with, etc. – wey need top ground managers to look after them. E no different from taking care of real grass playing ground. Both need full eye before match, after match, checking during match and obviously all we fit do na to continue to test, and based on our findings try improve and create better levels for consistent play.” 🌾🛠️
On di latest sharp moves for understanding playing grounds:
Dr. Meade Spratley talk say, “We carry di kind test wey you go run for lab, wey others don do for plenty years, and talk say ‘how we fit do dis thing for ground?’ So, e dey little different from wetin others dey do, but e dey measure player-like pressure. E no dey drop small part of player load – e dey put down di full force and excitement wey NFL player go feel. Dat way we fit get responses wey dey for ground of play, but also fit for NFL crowd. Those two things na di key, we think.” 🧪🏈
On di work and joint moves of di NFL-NFLPA Joint Surfaces Committee for research and to push player safety forward:
Nick Pappas talk say, “We dey take plenty feedback from di players – dem na our main people at di end of di day. Dis really show when we start to dey talk more open… to figure out di best way forward. Plenty of am come down to how we go join fund, join come up with program to continue research, continue improve, continue figure out wetin dey happen with our grounds: how much dem dey add to potential injury, how dem dey affect our game from competition angle and everything in between. To work together as group na really di way to move forward to find dat end result we dey look for right now.” 🤝🏟️
NOW IN BLACK AMERICAN SLANG
👣 NFL Steps Up Its Game to Tackle Leg Injuries 🏈
On December 5, 2023, NFL’s top doc, Dr. Allen Sills, called in a squad of experts to spill the tea on how teamwork and deep research are making big moves in cutting down on leg injuries. Peep the whole convo in the webinar right here.
The crew shed light on the gains made in cutting back on leg injuries among NFL players, especially during that preseason grind, which used to see a lot of these injuries. They also dived into the work being done by the NFL-NFLPA Joint Surfaces Committee in checking out playing surfaces and pushing the envelope on research into field materials to keep the play consistent for the athletes. 🏈🔬
Rolling with Dr. Sills were:
- Mackenzie Herzog, the big brain behind Injury Surveillance and Analytics Epidemiology at IQVIA
- Andre’ Tucker, the main man in charge of keeping the Chicago Bears in top shape
- Nick Pappas, the go-to for all things fields at the NFL
- Meade Spratley, the deep thinker at Biocore LLC
Here’s the lowdown from the experts:
They dropped knowledge on how getting your athletes ready and trained right can make those injury numbers dip:
Dr. Mackenzie Herzog hit us with, “Keeping injuries on the low during training camp is key, showing that less hurt means more playtime. The teams holding down the fort at the Super Bowl have been the ones with fewer injuries during these camps, proving that easing into the season not only cuts down on injuries but keeps your squad ready to roll.” 🏋️♂️🚑
Andre’ Tucker came through with, “When we’re easing into it without contact… the shift can get lost when we throw on the pads, upping the intensity. It’s crucial to take a step back and reset instead of pushing the same pace. Sometimes, we miss that – thinking after a few days of easing in, we can just gear up and go harder. But slapping on those pads means you gotta recalibrate and step up the prep to match that new level of intensity.” 🛑🏈
Talking about all the factors that play into getting injured on the field:
Dr. Meade Spratley broke it down, “There’s not just one thing that tells us who’s gonna get hurt. Sure, a super hard field is a red flag for injury risk. But a field can be hard and springy, soft and soggy, or anything in between, so you gotta look at the whole picture and not just zero in on one aspect.” 🌱📊
Getting players ready for all kinds of fields and weather every week:
Andre’ Tucker laid it out, “It all comes back to schooling them. The gear squad, performance team, and I huddle up to talk about what kind of field we’re hitting up next, considering the locale, weather, whether we’re indoors or out, to figure out the field vibe. Then we strategize on how to break it down for the players, making sure to clue them in early in the week.” 📚🌦️
On how keeping fields in check and regular upkeep can ensure safety, top performance, and consistent play:
Nick Pappas was like, “There’s no cookie-cutter solution; each spot is its own beast, needing its own setup and performance plan. You can’t just lay down synthetic turf and bounce.”
Dr. Meade Spratley added, “The MVP field is the one that’s kept tight with maintenance. Field managers can really make a difference with their upkeep game, tweaking a field to get just the right feel.” 🌿🔧
Nick Pappas came back with, “Synthetic fields have leveled up with all sorts of specs – fiber styles, types, density, infill weight, you name it – needing legit field managers to keep them in check. It’s the same hustle as keeping natural grass on point, needing all eyes on deck before, during, and after games. Our goal is to keep testing and tweaking based on what we find to level up the consistency.” 🌾🛠️
On the fresh takes in understanding playing surfaces:
Dr. Meade Spratley shared, “We flipped the script on lab tests to take them to the field, measuring the real deal forces an NFL player dishes out. This way, we’re getting field feedback that’s not just relevant but dialed in for the NFL crew.” 🧪🏈
Talking about how the NFL-NFLPA Joint Surfaces Committee is teaming up in research and pushing for safer play:
Nick Pappas said, “Player feedback is gold – they’re the ones in the game, after all. Opening up the convo shed light on the best moves forward, focusing on pooling resources and brains to keep the research, improvements, and insights flowing on our fields: figuring out their role in injuries, how they impact the game, and everything in between. Teaming up is the game plan for hitting those goals we’re all aiming for.” 🤝🏟️
NOW IN ENGLISH
👣 NFL Takes Major Steps to Cut Down on Lower Extremity Injuries 🏈
On December 5, 2023, the NFL’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Allen Sills, convened a panel of experts to delve into the collaborative and research-based strategies that have significantly reduced lower extremity injuries. You can catch the full details in the webinar below.
The panel highlighted the strides made in recent years to lower the incidence of lower extremity injuries among NFL players, particularly during the preseason, which has historically seen a high rate of such injuries. They also discussed the efforts of the NFL-NFLPA Joint Surfaces Committee in testing surfaces and supporting innovative research into surface materials to ensure greater consistency across playing fields for athletes. 🏈🔬
The distinguished panel included:
- Mackenzie Herzog, Director of Injury Surveillance and Analytics Epidemiology at IQVIA
- Andre’ Tucker, Head Athletic Trainer for the Chicago Bears
- Nick Pappas, NFL’s Field Director
- Meade Spratley, Senior Researcher at Biocore LLC
Here are some key insights shared by the experts:
They emphasized how proper athlete preparation and training can lead to a reduction in injuries:
Dr. Mackenzie Herzog noted, “Lowering injuries during the training camp is a strategic win, underlining that fewer injuries mean having your players available on the field. The past five Super Bowl champions have consistently had fewer injuries during the training camp, highlighting that a gradual ramp-up not only lowers injury risks but ensures player availability throughout the season.” 🏋️♂️🚑
Andre’ Tucker pointed out, “During non-contact ramp-ups… the transition can sometimes be lost because adding pads changes the intensity. It’s crucial to pull back and start anew instead of just continuing the same ramp-up. As clinicians or professionals, we might not always recognize this shift – assuming that after 4-5 days of ramp-up, adding shoulder pads means we can proceed as usual. But the introduction of pads automatically elevates the intensity, necessitating a recalibration and appropriate ramp-up to accommodate this change.” 🛑🏈
Regarding the myriad factors influencing injury risk during play:
Dr. Meade Spratley explained, “No single factor effectively predicts injury. Certainly, an overly hard field is a concern for its potential impact on injury risk. However, a field could be hard yet elastic, soft yet damp, or exhibit entirely different characteristics, necessitating a comprehensive approach to evaluating its mechanical response without focusing solely on one aspect.” 🌱📊
Preparing players for diverse surfaces and conditions:
Andre’ Tucker highlighted, “It all comes back to education. The equipment, performance staff, and I discuss the upcoming playing surface, considering the location, climate, whether it’s indoor or outdoor, to determine the field’s characteristics. Then we strategize on how to present this information to the players, aiming to brief the team early in the week.” 📚🌦️
On the importance of surface management and maintenance for ensuring safety, performance, and consistency:
Nick Pappas stated, “There’s no one-size-fits-all solution; each site is unique, requiring different construction and performance considerations. It’s not as simple as installing an artificial field and leaving it be.”
Dr. Meade Spratley added, “The best field is one that’s well-maintained. Field managers can significantly influence through their maintenance practices, customizing a field to achieve a specific response.” 🌿🔧
Nick Pappas further explained, “Artificial fields have evolved, with detailed specifications regarding fiber styles, types, density, and infill weight, all necessitating expert field management. This is akin to managing a natural grass playing surface, which requires constant attention before, during, and after games. Our goal is to continue testing and, based on our findings, strive for improved consistency.” 🌾🛠️
On recent advancements in field surface analysis:
Dr. Meade Spratley shared, “We adapted lab-based tests for on-field application, measuring loads akin to those experienced by NFL players. This approach allows us to assess field responses that are both relevant and specific to NFL athletes.” 🧪🏈
Regarding the collaborative efforts of the NFL-NFLPA Joint Surfaces Committee in research and enhancing player safety:
Nick Pappas remarked, “Player feedback is crucial as they are our primary users. Open discussions have shed light on the best way forward, focusing on joint funding and collaborative programs to advance research, understand field contributions to injury risk, and assess competitive impacts. Working together is essential for achieving our desired outcomes.” 🤝🏟️
