COVID-19 led to restrictions in training and competitions for athletes whether they were high school, collegiate or professional. Now with those limitations easing, athletes may find that returning to normal for a possible post-COVID fall season isn't as simple as it appears, says a University of Cincinnati sports medicine expert.
Brian Grawe, MD, associate professor of orthopaedic surgery in UC's College of Medicine and UC Health sports medicine physician, says he fears there may be more injuries because athletes just aren't as prepared after having limitations on their ability to train and condition for competition during months of isolation or severely restricted interaction.
"Athletes have a different level of conditioning, and there will be different levels of expectations associated with preparation," says Grawe, who provides treatment for high school, collegiate and professional athletic teams in the Tristate. "We got used to these Zoom meetings and lack of in-person interaction. A lot of the different sporting teams, high school, college and professional ranks have gotten used to this platform and are using it to prepare."
Grawe and Bret Betz, MD, assistant professor of orthopaedic surgery at UC, spoke with WVXU's Cincinnati Edition about proper physical and mental conditioning for high school, collegiate and professional athletes.
