Keeping The Athlete Healthy II: Vol 2

Most of my study, research, and field work the past several decades, has revolved around how the body reacts and adapts to vigorous exercise, training, and intense competition. It would be wise for the quality coach, athlete, and parents of same to heed the fact that with almost certainty, every participant submersed in serious training for competitive sports success will endure some form of physical and/or emotional challenge and difficulty. I have never coached, or even known an athlete to achieve his, or her lofty goals without enduring some down time during their career. The list of sports medicine's potential for physical injuries, illnesses, or emotional barriers to overcome for success is a long one. This second volume of KEEPING THE ATHLETE HEALTHY, as in the first, shines a light on the problems the human body can expect to face if intense training is not handled in an appropriate way that best benefits the participant. As I have said so many times to my athletes, their parents, and to anyone who has asked my advice, “what good is a sick or injured athlete... NO GOOD.” Most are like thoroughbred horses: terrible patients, totally impatient to get back to training and face what sidelined them in the first place. That's why they shoot horses. Their intellect relative to the healing process and all that involves, is virtually non-existent. But if we can have educated personnel coaching, participating, guiding and caring for the willing and dedicated athlete to success while all actively participate in a holistic team effort to anticipate, prevent, or help cure as much as possible the causes of injury and/or illness relative to sports, then my job of sharing this vital knowledge will have been well done