Summer is typically an important time for athletes in a variety of sports. The 2020 offseason looks a lot different than other years because of restrictions in place for the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Dr. Jon Henry, an orthopedic surgeon with Orthopedics & Sports Medicine BayCare Clinic, the restrictions mean more athletes can’t participate in as many team sport activities and may not have access to their regular workout facilities or personal trainers.
“To make a more general statement, athletes have been much more on their own with this current offseason training compared to other years or a more normal situation,” Henry says.
While the restrictions have fostered some creative solutions for many athletes forced to work out at home, there is potential for improper training and potential overuse injuries if athletes aren’t careful.
“Many athletes, I think, are doing fine,” Henry says. “But it’s not the same and without supervision, again, whether it’s from a coach or trainer or a supervised team activity or working with a strength and conditioning coach, there certainly is potential for problems.
Check out the latest episode of the BayCare Clinic Podcast to learn more about the risks athletes face from inadequate or improper training in preparation for 2020-21 sports seasons – whatever they may look like.