Athletes evaluated during two seasons showed no changes in their nutritional behavior, consuming similar amounts of energy, calcium and vitamin D at both assessment points.
-Dr. Garcia and Dr.Guisado
I am not here to place judgement on a gruesome injury, but I think I will look at my blood testing schedule again to ensure we are following up with analyzing nutritional status with athletes. Sometimes bad luck or other visual reminders shake us awake to remember to ensure we are doing the basics. After 10 years of doing quarterly blood draws with some select athletes, I agree it isn’t easy to change lifestyle unless you measure it and get people engaged. Still, we have a job to do and sometimes making sure athletes are doing what we say they are. Supplying athletes with Vitamin D is a start, but unless you are dropping the pills in their mouth like children compliance is surprisingly low and unknown. Catered meals, clubhouse chefs, and group dinners is all part of the process. College and professional teams need to blood test more as assessing nutrition isn’t just about looking for six packs and scales. With research such as the spanish study on basketball, african american athletes are at risk and we need to do more to help them. No matter what the FMS score or HRV status is, monitoring the inside of our bodies with nutrition can help. With a rise in foot fractures (and muscle pulls), medical staff need to see both biochemical and mechanical risk factors that increase danger to player bodies.