Being the Best is About Being the Least Injured

In the playoff series for any code of sport it's common to read about leg cramps, muscle cramps, the effects of heat and dehydration and different approaches to fluid and energy intake.

In Australia finals season is almost upon us as the major ball sports prepare for the finals play offs.

As we saw in the Football World Cup, there are 2 strategies in place that dominate the talk in the newspapers and TV news:
* Be the best team
* Mitigate injury problems

Out of these two factors, being the best team is important for the intitial phase of competition, but it's injury preparation that teams and coaches tend to focus on in the last few rounds.

For example, if a team can afford to lose a game or two and still make the finals, they may consider resting key players carrying injuries.

And if you combine injuries with more extreme environmental conditions - high heat and humidity - this injury mitigation strategy is all the more important.

One of the many points we raise in the Ultimate Cramp Busting Guide is to have a training plan to prevent leg cramps and muscle cramps and that 'more' isn't necessarily better when it comes to preparation for an event.

One of our consultants, lecturing acupuncturist Paul Movsessian, explains that when he treats professional athletes for injuries including repeated muscle cramping, muscle strainand chronic injuries, he advises them to reduce their training program by 60% once they're better.

Practically 100% of the time the feedback he gets is positive with athletes reporting more energy, faster times, fewer injuries.