Injuries are a common challenge faced by athletes and clubs, affecting not only players' careers and well-being but also team performance.
Understanding how to prevent injuries and develop effective return-to-competition strategies is crucial for athletes’ longevity and teams' sustained success. Despite advancements in training programs and technology, injury rates across many sports, especially football, continue to rise. This trend suggests that important factors may not be fully considered in current approaches.
At Spandrel Analytics, we examine these critical areas to provide insights that can benefit both athletes and clubs. A notable case is that of Isco, which highlights the complexity of injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Isco, an international-level player, suffered an unusual fibula fracture that prompted a closer look at the underlying factors influencing his performance. Our analysis reveals how an incomplete understanding of an athlete's development can lead to performance constraints that jeopardize their career. For instance, Isco’s technical abilities were limited by Genu Varum and coordinative capacity, which created undue stress on certain areas of his body. This resulted in a fracture that required surgical repair.
The rehabilitation process that followed, however, was not as effective as anticipated. Without a comprehensive multidisciplinary analysis, the approach taken inadvertently increased strain on the affected area, leading to further complications and the necessity for additional surgical intervention.
In our report, we share an integrative model of analysis developed at Spandrel Analytics. This model assesses an athlete's capacity for high performance and identifies injury prevention strategies, as well as effective rehabilitation processes. By focusing on these interconnected factors, we aim to promote a deeper understanding of how to enhance athlete health and performance outcomes.