Latest news with #athletehealth
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
PFA chief Molango voices concern over impact of post-season tours on players
Maheta Molango, the chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, has voiced concern over post-season tours given the added workload they put on players immediately after a packed campaign. Manchester United's controversy-ridden trip to Malaysia and Hong Kong is the latest example in a trend some fear is damaging athletes' health. 'We're all mindful and understand some of the financial dynamics the club goes through, but the reality is that quite a few players have expressed concern,' Molango said. 'We have expressed concern about these post-season tours.' United's tour descended into farce when they were booed by the crowd after defeat by an Asean All Stars side in Kuala Lumpur. The forward Amad Diallo drew intense criticism for raising his middle finger to fans outside the team hotel following that embarrassment, explaining later that he was responding to insults aimed at his mother. United expect to generate around £10m from the excursion. Molango also questioned pre-season tours that pit traditional rivals against one another when players are still building fitness. Arsenal and Tottenham will meet in Hong Kong next month, the first north London derby to take place outside the UK. 'You cannot just turn up at the derby with flip flops,' he said. 'Sometimes there's this misunderstanding that, yes, [pre-season] is about resting but then having a proper ability to build up to that level of intensity and that level of game.' No solution to the discussion about football's bloated schedule is in sight, although progress is being made with a formal complaint tabled by European Leagues, La Liga and the global players' union, Fifpro, last October against Fifa's imposition of the match calendar. While Fifa is understood to have begun engaging with the complainants, who have accused world football's governing body of 'abusive and anti-competitive' acts in imposing events like this summer's expanded Club World Cup, there is scant prospect of a quick agreement. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion There are clear concerns that domestic competitions rather than money-spinning international events will feel the pain if cuts are made to the calendar, and Molango repeated previous assertions that any solution must be applied broadly. 'I'm not just talking about Manchester United, I'm talking in general about the situation,' he said. 'This once again confirms the need of taking a holistic approach to the problem because you aren't going to solve it if you just attack one specific competition. You need to be able to take a holistic view.'
Entrepreneur
7 days ago
- Health
- Entrepreneur
How Betterguards is Changing the Injury Prevention Game With Swagger
Despite billions spent on sports medicine, ankle injuries remain stubbornly common. With roots in the NBA Launchpad, Betterguards is redefining injury prevention under CEO Tony Verutti by putting science — and athletes — first. Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Whether you like basketball, football or anything else, every sports fan and athlete has one common enemy: injuries. They ruin promising careers, shatter fans' hopes and cost teams millions. There's a massive sports medicine industry built around keeping athletes healthy. Yet some issues, like ankle injuries, just won't go away. Tony Verutti, CEO of sports tech company Betterguards, has an explanation. "People are creating products to fit the code rather than thinking about what the athlete needs," he tells Entrepreneur. Betterguards started because the founder broke his ankle and realized the current solutions weren't helping athletes. Verutti believes Betterguards' new flagship product, the BetterGuard 2.0, is a step towards changing that. "It's the first and only adaptive ankle support system that offers protection and mobility," Verutti says. "That was the idea from the start, designing a product with the athlete in mind, grounded in science, to help them move freely, perform at their best and recover faster." Related: 'This is the Future': WNBA Legend Lisa Leslie Reflects on the WNBA's Growth and Championing Small Business Launchpad to success Betterguards got its start through the NBA Launchpad program, designed to source, evaluate and pilot emerging technologies, working with entrepreneurs and companies to innovate the NBA ecosystem. Betterguards was among the first five companies selected for the program in 2022. "The launch pad exists to help the NBA solve its own problems," Verutti says. "Well, 25% of NBA players hurt their ankle every season." Betterguards handled the R&D of the product, while the launchpad helped by providing them with use cases to test, and third-party experts for evaluation. "The launch pad was a huge accelerator for us because it set us on the journey to develop the Betterguard as our own product," Verutti says. Like many great startups, Betterguards is solution-oriented, aiming to lower the barrier to entry for ankle protection. Most medical products, like ankle braces, are introduced via a prescription from a doctor. Verutti says many doctors prescribe braces simply because they fit the code. "Ankle braces are made based on codes that get submitted for reimbursement," he explains. "So people are creating products that fit the code, and nobody was thinking about what the athlete needs." While the BetterGuard has been vetted, Verutti emphasizes the importance of cutting out the intermediary and selling directly to the athletes. "Athletes have been hungry for a product like this, especially with ankle injuries being the most common in sports." It's easy to target athletes, but convincing them you're legit is a different story. Betterguards' direct-to-consumer model means they rely on athlete adoption and scientific validation, rather than just doctor recommendations, to bolster their credibility. A big part of their customer base is young athletes between 12 and 20. Verutti believes seeing the pros rocking his products will help them catch on with this segment. "Just like pro-model shoes can be inspiring, we see Betterguards becoming a kind of badge of honor, a sign that you take your athletic performance seriously," Verutti says. "Making that technology more accessible only helps level the playing field." Related: Is Horse Racing the Next Big League? Meet the Founders Betting on It Science, not tradition He also notes that the company has an advanced scientific advisory board across Germany and the US, with multiple PhDs in research, orthopedic surgeons, performance experts and practitioners at the highest level of rehabilitation. "We always say that Betterguards makes products based on science, not tradition," Verutti says. "It's a crucial part of our ethos." These strategies are paying off. Betterguards are now used by 30 top NCAA programs, several Tier 1 athletes in the NBA and NFL, and four national Olympic teams. They are also endorsed by Keke Lyles, former Director of Performance for the Golden State Warriors. Image credit: Betterguards "Betterguards stands out for its groundbreaking innovation," Lyles says. "Their technology is unlike anything I've seen, with a clear focus on injury prevention that addresses a critical need for athletes. This isn't just another endorsement for me; Betterguards is a game-changer in how we approach injury prevention and performance enhancement." He would know, considering he helped rehab Steph Curry, the victim of some of the most infamous ankle injuries ever. "Unlike traditional ankle braces that restrict movement, the BetterGuard allows athletes to move freely," Lyles says. "If an ankle roll occurs, the brace engages instantly to prevent or minimize injury, reducing recovery time from weeks to days. This enables athletes to focus on training and performance rather than rehab." Injuries are every athlete's worst nightmare. Verutti's dream is to modernize injury prevention and recovery, enabling athletes to play longer, move better, and recover faster. "In one or two years, we want to become the face of modernizing injury prevention and recovery," Verutti says. If Lyles's words are any indication, the company is well on its way.
RNZ News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Sport Integrity Commission joins chorus of condemnation of Enhanced Games
Photo: AFP / Tek Image/Science Photo Library The Enhanced Games are exploiting athletes and putting their health and careers at risk, says the Sport Integrity Commission. The Enhanced Games where athletes can using substances banned in official competition announced earlier this week they will have their inaugural competition in Las Vegas, in May next year and will include swimming, athletics and weightlifting. Australian businessman Aaron D'Souza is behind the Games and believes athletes should be able to do what they wish with their own bodies and is touting it as the 'Olympics of the future', allowing athletes to take drugs in a bid to break 'world records'. Organisers maintain they will protect athletes while using technology and science to enhance their strength and speed, unlocking a new level of "superhuman" performances. The Sport Integrity Commission, which is responsible for anti-doping in New Zealand, has joined a chorus of international condemnation of the Games. Chair Don McKinnon said the Games promote "a dangerous sporting event that jeopardises athlete health and safety while fundamentally eroding the core values of fair play and integrity. There will be no drug rules for the Enhanced Games. Photo: AFP / Tek Image/Science Photo Library "The Enhanced Games exploits athletes by putting their health and careers at risk for the sake of purported entertainment and financial gain. Doping in sport is never acceptable and we condemn any activities that undermine the safety and fairness of sport. "We join WADA and other anti-doping and sporting bodies around the world in standing for clean sport, athlete health, and the integrity of international competition," said McKinnon. The Commission believes New Zealand athletes and athletes around the world should be able to compete with the confidence that their competitors are clean and that those who choose to engage in doping will be caught and subject to appropriate sanctions. The Enhanced Games is backed by a venture capital fund which includes billionaire entrepreneur Peter Thiel and was initially launched as a concept in 2023, when it was presented as an opportunity to beat world records for cash prizes up to $US1 million. World Athletics president Lord Coe has said taking part would be "moronic", and any competitor would face a lengthy ban. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Al Bawaba
21-05-2025
- Health
- Al Bawaba
Aspetar Announces Inaugural Aspetar World Conference 2025: Precision Athlete Health and Performance
Aspetar, a leader in sports medicine and a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, announces the opening of registration for the inaugural Aspetar World Conference 2025: Precision Athlete Health and Performance, taking place from 9th to 11th October, 2025, at Aspire Academy in Doha, landmark event is set to be one of the largest and most comprehensive gatherings in sports medicine globally. The conference will feature over 40 international speakers and Aspetar's renowned experts, offering a robust scientific program structured around four main thematic streams: Sports Injuries, Medical Conditions in Sports, Sports Science and Performance, and Sports Pharmacy, Nursing, and the course of three days, attendees will benefit from 18 hours of sessions and multiple hands-on workshops, all designed to address the most current and emerging topics at the intersection of clinical practice, science, and technology in athlete health and renowned expertise will be showcased throughout the conference, with leading clinicians, scientists, and multidisciplinary teams from Aspetar presenting alongside other world-class addition, the event will see the participation of numerous sports bodies, international institutions, and leading universities, further enhancing opportunities for knowledge exchange and collaboration across the global sports medicine upcoming event will feature a comprehensive program addressing a wide range of cutting-edge topics in sports medicine and athlete care. Highlights include the application of artificial intelligence for precision healthcare in athletes, innovative injury prevention strategies for young athletes, and the latest surgical and rehabilitation advances for sports-related injuries. The agenda also covers FIFA's methodologies for tournament preparation and cardiac screening, pain and nerve compression syndromes, and best practices in paediatric athlete will gain insights into effective multidisciplinary teamwork, current anti-doping strategies, the management of bone stress injuries, and the use of shockwave therapy. Additional sessions will explore environmental and recovery strategies, advances in clinical pharmacology, knee cartilage surgery and rehabilitation, and the integration of wearable technologies. A special emphasis will be placed on individualized approaches for female and youth athletes, ensuring that the most current, evidence-based practices are integrated across all facets of athlete health and performance. The conference is open to a broad spectrum of professionals, including physicians, allied healthcare providers, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, researchers, scientists, coaches, and all specialists dedicated to sports medicine and athlete leadership and multidisciplinary expertise will be on full display, reinforcing its role as a pioneer in advancing global standards for athlete health and performance. To secure your place at the forefront of sports medicine innovation, register now at the Aspetar World Conference website. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba ( Signal PressWire is the world's largest independent Middle East PR distribution service.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Coroner's office: Heart issues caused UNLV offensive lineman Ben Christman's death
UNLV offensive lineman Ben Christman's February death was due to a heart issue. The Clark County Coroner's Office said Thursday that Christman died of heart disease and an irregular heartbeat. Christman was found dead at his apartment on Feb. 11. He was set to turn 22 on Feb. 12. According to an incident report after his death, Christman said that he was experiencing chest pains the day before. He visited the team's cardiologist and had an EKG but was told that everything looked normal. He was discovered at his apartment by teammates who went to check on him after he wasn't at practice on Feb. 11. 'Our team's heart is broken to hear of Ben's passing,' UNLV coach Dan Mullen said in a statement after his death. 'Since the day Ben set foot on our campus a month ago, he made the Rebels a better program. Ben was an easy choice for our Leadership Committee as he had earned the immediate respect, admiration and friendship of all his teammates.' Before transferring to UNLV in the offseason, Christman spent two seasons at Ohio State and two seasons at Kentucky. He was with the Buckeyes for the 2021 and 2022 seasons and then transferred to Lexington where he appeared in 12 games over two seasons. He was an Ohio native and four-star recruit in the high school class of 2021. On social media Friday morning, former Ohio State quarterback and current ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit advocated for all college physicals to include echocardiograms. His son Zak, a walk-on at Ohio State, was hospitalized in 2023 and diagnosed with cardiomyopathy. In his post, Herbstreit said that a heart replacement was even discussed for Zak but that his condition has improved over the past two years. 'A mandated echo could help save lives,' Herbstreit wrote. 'It's time for the NCAA and conference commissioners to take a look at this. Love to be involved.'
