Plain English with Derek Thompson

The Mysterious Rise of Major Injuries in Professional Sports

101 snips
Jul 9, 2025
Vern Gambetta, a renowned conditioning coach and trainer, dives into the alarming rise of major injuries in professional sports. He addresses the puzzling surge of Achilles tears among NBA players, traditionally seen in older athletes, and links it to pressures on modern sports performance. Gambetta also discusses the increase in Tommy John and ACL surgeries, the impact of footwear design, and the balance between skill development and injury prevention. His insights shed light on the delicate balance between athletic excellence and athlete well-being.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Early Specialization Limits Movement Literacy

  • Early sport specialization limits cross-training and reduces movement literacy.
  • Repeated sport-specific motions at a young age increase injury risk later.
ADVICE

Train Pitchers as Athletes First

  • Develop young pitchers as athletes first, pitchers second.
  • Build body awareness, strength, and agility before focusing on throwing velocity.
INSIGHT

Big Contracts Fuel Injury Risks

  • Higher pitching velocity correlates with increased injury rates due to biomechanical stress.
  • Economic and competitive pressures encourage pitchers to prioritize velocity over injury risk.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app