"No athlete at this level is 100% fully healthy, Gretchen Mohney, the director of medical and performance services for U.S. Figure Skating, told The Associated Press from Milan. It's about managing whatever it is that may be breaking down. The key for Olympic skaters is getting quick treatment. If a knee swells, the back aches or a sharp blade leaves a gash, figure skaters at the Olympics have physicians, athletic trainers and physical therapists to help."
"Mohney, who holds a doctorate in interdisciplinary health sciences, listed several red flags that skaters and staff watch for, and wellness tips for weekend athletes. Some warning flags Treat acute injuries immediately. Recognizing and responding to acute injury is huge and what we are going to do about it versus ignoring it, because it usually gets worse, Mohney said. You have to get rid of the old-school philosophy of just suck it up and don't do anything about it."
"Treatment of chronic injuries. Elite figure skaters can't take six weeks off, and at the Olympics, it's perform now or never. We don't say rest for two weeks, we say let's get you to perform as safely as possible without causing further injury, Mohney said. Some interventions are simple, like adding padding to the feet to offset small friction inside the skate."
Elite figure skaters rarely are completely healthy and must manage both acute and chronic injuries while competing. Rapid recognition and treatment of acute injuries prevents worsening. Chronic injuries are managed to allow safe performance rather than complete rest. Simple interventions include padding inside skates to reduce friction. Maintaining mobility and flexibility through stretching and warmups prevents compensatory stress on other body parts. Varying training volume and intensity helps address overuse from year-round competition. Repetitive movements, such as arching the back for layback spins, can create specific overuse risks that require adjustment or intervention.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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