Performance Diagnostics and Reducing the Risk of Injury
Functional assessments have evolved into integral tools in performance diagnostics and decision-making processes for athletes making a return to sports. Recent research, illustrated using the Lower Extremity Functional Test (LEFT) alongside evaluations of movement quality, underscores their potential in injury prevention. By deploying STAPPONE Physio among volleyball players from WKV Herrsching, objective data on movement quality is captured using intelligent sensor insoles. Symmetry and pressure distribution data provide valuable insights for precise and individualized athlete care.
Functional Assessments:
Functional assessments have long served as practical and clinically relevant tools in the realm of performance diagnostics and decision-making associated with Return-to-Activity (RTA), Return-to-Sport (RTS), and Return-to-Competition (RTC).1 Yet, the question remains: can these seemingly straightforward assessments also play a role in injury prevention?
The exploration of their potential for predicting injury risks has been a subject of intensive research in recent years, yielding diverse findings regarding the efficacy of different assessments.2
Recent studies propose that, for instance, incorporating the Lower Extremity Functional Test (LEFT) alongside an additional evaluation of movement quality can offer valuable insights into individual injury risks.3 However, the challenge lies in how we collect data on movement quality. A discerning eye and video recordings are beneficial, and our intelligent sensor insoles further facilitate a swift and objective assessment.
In our assessments with WKV Herrsching volleyball players, we employed STAPPONE Physio as a valuable tool to gather objective data on movement quality. While the LEFT typically provides only the necessary duration for assessment execution, we complement this information with objective data on movement quality, encompassing factors like symmetry and pressure distribution. This allows the coaching team and athletes to promptly identify potential irregularities in loading behavior, thereby enhancing the provision of better and more personalized athlete care.
stappone products serve as indispensable support for orthopedic specialists and physiotherapists, aiding in achieving an objective diagnosis and facilitating comprehensive treatment.
Do you have any questions about using stappone products? Get in touch with us! We will be happy to help you at any time.
1 Brumitt et al., 2013; Haitz et al., 2014
2 Brumitt et al., 2016 & 2018; Gomez-Piqueras et al., 2017; Chang & Lu, 2020
3 Shimeng et al., 2021
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