The Road Back: What Athletes Should Do While Returning From Long-Term Injury
Returning from a long-term injury isn’t just about healing—it’s a performance phase that can redefine an athlete’s career. This article explores a smart, multidisciplinary approach to recovery that rebuilds the body, sharpens the mind, and prepares athletes not just to return, but to return stronger. From movement quality and mindset to nutrition, technology, and prehab, here’s how to make the road back your launchpad to greatness.
World Boxing Makes Sex Testing Compulsory For All Boxers
World Boxing has introduced mandatory genetic sex testing for all boxers aged 18 and above, citing the need to ensure fairness and safety in competition. The new policy has immediate consequences for Algeria’s Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif, who has been barred from upcoming events—including the Eindhoven Box Cup—until she undergoes the required testing. The decision comes amid renewed debates over gender eligibility in combat sports, following similar controversies at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Beyond The Basics: The Power Of High Performance Coaching In Elite Sport
Every industry, at some point in its evolution, undergoes a phase shift that redefines its trajectory. In sports and performance coaching, that shift occurred in the 1990s when the term high performance began gaining traction. Today, “high performance coaching” is more than just a buzzword — it’s revolutionizing the way athletes are being trained to compete on the world stage. Let’s explore what high performance coaching truly means and why it matters. What is High Performance Coaching? High performance coaching is a mindset rooted in advanced training philosophies and individualized strategies designed to help athletes perform at their peak over an extended period. Traditional coaching methods often fall short in preparing athletes for the demands of international competition. This is where a coach who can think creatively and develop tailored frameworks becomes invaluable — someone who can adapt to the specific needs of each athlete and unlock their full potential. How is a High-Performance Coach Different from a Regular Coach? While a regular coach typically works with athletes on their journey to the top, a high-performance coach engages with athletes already operating at elite levels. The key difference lies in the depth of knowledge and problem-solving ability. High performance coaches are equipped to handle complex challenges and provide nuanced solutions that go beyond standard training protocols. Their strength lies in lateral thinking and a holistic understanding of the multifaceted nature of athletic performance. Also Read: Should Psychology Be Focused On In Indian Grassroots Sports? Why Does an Athlete Need a High-Performance Coach? Elite athletes inevitably face obstacles such as injuries, performance plateaus, or dips in motivation. During such critical phases, generic training plans often fall short. A high-performance coach brings the ability to dissect these challenges through a multivariate lens — identifying subtle factors that contribute to performance issues and crafting personalized interventions. As athletes approach their genetic ceiling, the margin for error shrinks. Precision, customization, and deep expertise become essential, and that’s where the high-performance coach plays a transformative role. Road to Podium: A Case Study In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics, I worked with an athlete recovering from ACL reconstruction surgery, with just 20 weeks to prepare for the Olympic selection trials — far shorter than the typical 8–9-month return-to-play timeline. This high-stakes situation demanded a non-linear, innovative approach. I collaborated closely with sports medicine professionals to craft a safe yet aggressive rehab and training plan. Navigating this successfully required a high-performance mindset — balancing urgency with medical realities and customizing every step of the recovery process. High performance coaching is not a certification or a collection of training drills — it’s a mindset. It’s about embracing complexity, solving performance puzzles with creativity and insight, and continuously refining one’s domain knowledge through experience and reflective practice. High performance coaches play a pivotal role in helping athletes unlock their potential, especially when the stakes are highest. Article written by: Abhinav M Edited by: Prakhar Sachdeo About Abhinav: Abhinav is a High-Performance Strength & Conditioning expert with 14 years of experience enhancing athletic performance across sports like Boxing, Wrestling, Badminton, Track & Field, and more. He specializes in elite athlete development through tailored strength training, periodization, biomechanics, and injury prevention.
SportsSkill Is Bringing Data-Driven Training To Indian Sports
A deep dive into SportSkill’s mission to revolutionize sports training with data and technology. SportSkill is a startup by co-founded two former athletes.
Concussion Cut Shorts Will Pucovski’s Cricket Career — Understanding The Brain Injury In Sports
Australian cricketer Will Pucovski for forced into early retirement from the sport following a series of concussions that he has suffered.
Explained: What is Achilles tendon rupture and why it takes time to heal?
Golf legend Tiger Woods recently revealed that he underwent surgery after rupturing his Achilles tendon, raising questions about his ability to compete in upcoming major championships. Woods opened up about his injury through his social media accounts but did not give any timeline of when he is expected to be fit again. The 49-year-old American said he had a minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair for a rupture. According to an article by the Associated Press the recoveries of the most athletes following an Achilles tendon rupture take at least a month before they can even put weight on their foot. So what is an Achilles tendon rupture and why does it takes time for athletes to recover from this injury? The Achilles tendon (a tendon is a connective tissue that connects muscle with a bone) derives its name from Greek mythological figure Achilles. According to the myth, Achilles’ only weakness was his heel. Also Read: Do Kinetics Really Play A Part In Sports? The Achilles tendon are located in the back of the lower leg and are strongest, largest and thickest tendons of the human body. These tendons play a important role in walking, running and jumping and hence crucial for athletes. An Achilles tendon tear could either be partial or a complete rupture. According to a UT Southwestern Medical center blog, Achilles tendon rupture requires “a year or longer to fully recover, including rehab”. For non-athletes an Achilles tendon rupture can disrupt out daily functioning and they need proper medical care and therapy. Further a research titled “Return to Play and Player Performance After Achilles Tendon Rupture in UEFA Professional Soccer Players” states that Achilles tendon rupture is a potentially career-ending injury in professional athletes. The study concluded that the injured footballers “played less and demonstrated inferior performance during the season of injury.” Unlike a muscle, a tendon doesn’t get enough blood supply. It is blood that carries nutrients and other fluids that are essential for the healing process. Hence the recovery process is slow. The Sportz Planet Desk,Prakhar Sachdeo
Biomechanics Applied While Playing Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by two or four individuals and features every match with rapid short-duration actions. History Of Badminton Having launched in India in the late 19th century at the time of British colonialism, badminton has evolved into a game that calls for excellence in technical, tactical, physical and mental arenas for elite-level performance. In the past two decades, application of sports science has revolutionized the development of performance in international badminton competitions. How Badminton And Biomechanics Are Related? Badminton has thus played a vital role in the science of understanding and improving performance in sports, especially through biomechanics-the science of human motion. It is believed to be one of the best methods for the understanding of the athlete’s technique of performance so that it would be enhanced as much as one could increase the former and minimize the latter. For instance, in badminton, optimization of the execution of the stroke helps one to understand the endurance demands and to enhance general fitness. Badminton Power Strokes Biomechanics The field of study has entailed a tremendous shift from the past views founded on a better knowledge regarding the biomechanics of power strokes in badminton. The early researchers suggested that the strokes, particularly the power strokes, were initiated by the wrist snap, however, the recent biomechanical studies have negated the above scenario. It has been seen in different studies that forearm rotation plays a significant role in the generation of power and contributions arise from the movement of the radioulnar pronation, elbow extension, and ulnar deviation at the wrist. More research on this topic went further to quantify the contribution of various joints toward shuttle velocity during the smash stroke. Shoulder rotation and radioulnar pronation are significant contributors, with a contribution toward the shuttle speed of 53%. This finding established a drastic deviation from the traditional emphasis in stroke mechanics that focused around the wrist. It has been discovered that world-class players take enormous amounts of power in the underarm forehand and clear serve by pronating the forearm and rotating the upper arm medially while backhand clears are dependent on forearm supination and upper arm lateral rotation. Although the contribution of wrist motion has been reduced, further research is needed to determine the muscle groups that contribute to the power of these shots. Biomechanics Applied During Forehand Overhead Jump Smash The forehand overhead jump smash is one of the most important and aggressive strokes in badminton. Research on this stroke revealed that higher elbow angular velocity is correlated with higher shutter speeds during a jump smash. The timing of muscle activity is also important for the optimal performance of a smash. Studies on the temporal-spatial relationship between muscle activity and the execution of the smash have indicated that the control of distal muscles in the upper limb is critical for accuracy and speed. Comparative studies on forehand and backhand strokes have pointed out key biomechanical differences in angular velocities and muscle activation. Skilled players have been reported to produce very high angular velocities in the actions of glenohumeral external rotation, elbow supination, and wrist extension when playing a backhand stroke. The relative difference was lesser in the forehand stroke. This would therefore indicate the fact that although players often tend to play the forehand stroke more often, players put much focus into developing their backhand throughout their careers. A comprehensive analysis of surface EMG activity shows that a jump smash requires greater EMG activation prior to the shuttle contact than a regular smash to ensure that muscle activation is achieved before impact to attain high shuttle velocities. Biomechanics Applied During The Backhand Overhead Strokes Among these backhand overhead strokes, such as smash, clear and drop shot, biomechanical studies of smash have advanced the understanding of stroke execution. Recent researches have proved the extension of angle of the shoulders and angular acceleration of the wrists during the initial phase of a given stroke can provide greater shuttle speeds. These suggestions are of critical importance for competitors interested in their backhand overhead strokes and technique to perform better. Biomechanics Applied During The Forehand Serves The biomechanical analyses of the forehand serves have also been done on the comparisons between the long and short serves. It was found that there were three principal variables, namely: elbow angle, shuttle height at contact, and shuttle trajectory after launch. All these differences are important since they relate to how max height is achieved at which the shuttle travels and hence the effectiveness of the serve. For instance, the biomechanical variables, such as elbow angle and shuttle height, form the basis on which players base their strategic planning in service techniques. Biomechanics During General Endurance And Fitness In Badminton General endurance and physical fitness are essential to badminton performance. It has been noted that muscular endurance and explosive muscle strength are essential, particularly in the lower body. Research done on the strength of the knee extensor (quadriceps) and flexor (hamstrings) indicates that lower extremity musculature is critical in providing for the quick, forceful movements necessary throughout a match. Maximally developing strength and explosive strength through isometric muscle contractions are critical in producing powerful movements and recovery between points. Intermittent A badminton match imposes high demands on both the aerobic and anaerobic energy systems. Research has indicated that 60-70% of energy for a match is derived from the aerobic system and 30% anaerobically metabolized. The alactic anaerobic metabolism pathway is more prominent in the context of high-intensity explosions; here, explosive strength and fast recovery are of utmost value. Biomechanics is one area of sports science that can give unique insights into optimal performance. Its application in this sport can make it possible for athletes and coaches to optimize stroke mechanics, from power strokes through the forehand overhead jump smash, backhand strokes, to serves. Also, knowledge in the demands of general endurance and fitness-the biomechanics experience-would be a basis for building the physical capacity needed to perform at the elite level by athletes. As research in sports
Role Of Sports Science At The 38th National Games
With more than 10,000 athletes from all over the country performing at what is among India’s highest-profile sports events, 38th National Games have shed light on the growing importance of sports science in competitive athletics. At every turn in the games, sports science professionals including physiotherapists, biomechanists, team doctors, and nutritionists are working seriously to enhance athletes’ efforts and wellbeing. Sports Science At The Helm Of The 38th National Games Since sports science stepped to the helm of Indian sport, the 38th National Games mark an even deeper significance placed upon it because today the athletes get a multidisciplinary support system along with the maximum care being taken care of by a team and strategies to bring them to peak performance. From physical demands for running and swimming to mental concentration needed in some disciplines like archery and shooting, sports science works shoulder by shoulder with athletes as never before, helping them in their endurance-the physical, as well as the mental. Physiotherapists And Team Doctors Physiotherapists and team doctors are highly essential for the successful conduct of the 38th National Games. Their first and foremost responsibility is to see that the athletes are physically fit for competition and free of preventable injuries. With the precision required in determining the proper time for all the treatment and rehabilitation before competition begins, successful athletes need to recover quickly, down to having an experienced sports doctor treating each competitive event to assure their today-plateau finish. Rehabilitation and injury prevention comes into play with the help of physiotherapists, allowing athletes to recover from the rigors of events in a very short time so they remain fit and compete for a greater duration of the tournament. Biomechanics And Performance Optimization Biomechanics experts have become indispensable at the 38th National Games, providing insights into athletes’ movements, postures and techniques. By analyzing these elements, biomechanists can recommend improvements in form and technique, which can lead to better performance and reduced risk of injury. Whether it’s optimizing a sprinter’s stride or refining a swimmer’s stroke, biomechanics ensures that athletes can perform at the highest level while minimizing strain on their bodies. Nutritionists Fueling Performance At The 38th National Games Nutrition is another critical pillar of sports science at the 38th National Games. Nutritionists work closely with athletes to design tailored meal plans that fuel their bodies for peak performance and recovery. Proper nutrition ensures that athletes maintain energy levels, muscle mass and mental clarity during the competition, contributing significantly to their success in the games. Sports Science Drives Success At The 38th National Games At the 38th National Games, sports science is not just a supporting element; it is a cornerstone of athletes’ success. The contributions of physiotherapists, biomechanists, team doctors and nutritionists are transforming how athletes train, compete and recover, ensuring that they reach their full potential. As the 38th National Games continue to unfold, the integration of sports science ensures a new era of excellence in Indian sports. The Sportz Planet Desk
Is Sports Science The New SOS For An Athlete?
Discussing the evolution of sports science with its importance for an athlete in the National Games Conclave on January 29, 2025, was a very insightful discussion. Sports Science – The New SOS This panel included Manasi Joshi, who represents India in para-badminton. Manasi related her personal experiences, showing light on how she overcame what could have otherwise been a finishing blow to an injury through the help of physiotherapy. The Injury Before reaching the finals of the World Championship, Manasi Joshi was unable to get up during her warm-up due to extreme back pain. She pushed through the searing ache by taking painkillers and went on to play in the finals. However, after the event, medical scans revealed that three of her vertebrae were protruded, a condition which could have caused long-term damage. Role Of Sports Science In Recovery It is here that the utility of sports science was seen. With a focused team of sports professionals—physiotherapists, biomechanics experts and more—she initiated a specific recovery program. Physiotherapy was done individually for her to treat not only the pain at the moment but also to make the muscles around the area stronger and improve her posture to avoid any further damage. How Sports Science Helped Her Recover Fast It was just three months since Manasi Joshi was back on the field after this remarkable recovery. She testified that the intervention of sports science helped her to bounce back and credit his success to the dedication involved in his physiotherapy program. Manasi said that support from sports science would not only be a period of treatment during the recovery phases but also in the prevention of injuries in the long run. Future Of Sports Science In Athlete Recovery Manasi Joshi’s story depicts transformation through the aspect of sports science on the road of an athlete. Recovery with physiotherapy is essential so that the person can come back to top-notch performance without future injury risk and that integration of sports science into the lifestyle of the athletes is more imperative than ever for them, elevating recovery possibilities to levels considered impossible previously in terms of performances. The Sportz Planet Desk
Sports Science Discussed At The 38th National Games Conclave
The National Games Conclave in Uttarakhand on January 29, 2025, had a discussion very large, on the evolution of sports science from the life of an athlete. Mindset Evolving On Sports Science One of the panelists was an ex-athlete. Sports science in her days meant doping and only basic performance measurements, with injuries having limited solutions since the sport professionals in India were not even aware of what it was. It is a completely different scenario at present. Even the Government Of India has shown interest in sports science. Government Backs Sports Science The Indian Government has gone a long way in efforts for uplifting and supporting the cause of sports science. Financial and psychological support is now being provided to the advancement of sports science. The development has helped sports science to come to the fore not only in elite sports but also in every sport. As sports science increasingly finds its way to the front burner in India, the disciplines include nutrition, biomechanics, psychology and recovery techniques that all have to come together for better performance in athletics. Advancements In Recovery And Support For Athletes Recovery is the greatest advancement. It is possible now for modern-day athletes to acquire the most recent recovery techniques in order to prepare them to regain their fitness ahead of the competition. Teams composed of medical staff and fitness personnel are assigned for the proper recovery of an athlete’s body, as well as his mind to avoid being confined to bed too long or avoiding injuries. The Call To Research In Sport Science Despite all this, there is one stumbling block. India still has a lack of real research in sports science. This creates an inadequacy in their usual performances since proper scientific studies and data related to athletes are not available, which limits the maximum capabilities of an athlete. The increase in the investment of the country in sports science can be channeled into research to help build even more specific solutions that can enhance the status of the country in international sports. The Way Forward Lots have changed since the beginning and sports science in India still has many more things to be done. Proper aid, investments and more research will ensure better care and guidance in sports science in the global sphere. The Sportz Planet Desk
