Dr. Paul Saenz shares how the San Antonio Spurs have used Sports Science to help their Sports Medicine.

The Spurs have always been on a leading edge of performance have looked at best practices around the globe.

The sports medicine team consists of at least 10 positions with multiples at several of these positions.

ATs serve as the backbone and primary interface between the players and the medical team.

WHY monitor?

* Direct Feedback* Injury prevention* Performance enhancements* Rehabilitation baselines

Key facets of Athletic Performance

Strength

Aerobic Capacity

Nutrition

Recovery - has replaced the word “rest” - its intentional

Psychological Wellness - they fill out these surveys onn a daily basis

What to Monitor with Sports Science

Games and Training - volumes and intensity

Player Strength and conditioning

Fatigue / Recovery

Player Availability ( injury incidence and prevalence)

Types of Loads

External - the physical load they have endured

* Road cyclist - mean power output for given duration - 400 watts for 30 minutes

Internal - how have they responded physiologically

* HR, RPE, Blood lactate, cortisol, testosterone, inflammatory biomarkers

External Load Monitoring

Time Motion analysis - GPS and digital video movement analysis

Accelerometer Data - 

* Catapult system - GPS wearable system that monitors elapsed exercise time.

Neuromuscular function

The huge collection of data requires the skill to extrapolate and draw conclusions.

Internal Load Monitoring

RPE - Relative Perceived Exertion

Heart Rate Response

Biochemical

Weight

Adductor Squeeze

Dorsi-flexion lunge

Isometric lunge

RPE Scale

Self-determined assessment of exercise intensity

Correlates well with heart rate

Blood draws can be done during this time.

Cardio Recovery

Heart Rate Recovery - how quickly your heart rate returns to normal

Markers of fatigue vs fitness

Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test

* Short intense runs with brief recovery periods * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkOk_P5VnOA

Salivary Biomarkers

testosterone /Cortisol markers of stress and recovery

Anabolic vs Catabolic state

Adductor Squeeze

Done with a blood pressure cuff

Very well documented with European teams

Recovery Methods

Light cardio

Massage

Cryotherapy -  whole body cryotherapy