Dr. Judd Kalkhoven discusses his research on understanding soft tissue injuries and developing a conceptual model for injury prevention. He emphasizes the importance of starting with a comprehensive theoretical framework to explain the phenomenon of injury and then testing the assumptions within that framework. He also highlights the limitations of using proxies, such as GPS data, to predict injuries and the need for more accurate measures of mechanical load and tissue strength. Dr. Kalkhoven explains the difference between prediction and intervention and the challenges of accurately predicting individual injury risk. He raises concerns about the cost of injury prevention strategies and the need for accurate data to justify restricting athletes' training. In this conversation, Judd Kalkhoven discusses the challenges of using prediction models in sports injury prevention and the limitations of current research in this field. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the performance of the models being used and the need for a philosophy of training load in the absence of accurate predictions. Kalkhoven also explores the conceptual exploration of hamstring muscle tendon function during sprinting and highlights the complexity of hamstring function and the limitations of exercises that claim to mimic it. He discusses the cultural problem of hyper-conservatism in injury prevention and the importance of individualized approaches.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:12 The Conceptual Model for Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries

08:05 Taking a Step Back: Philosophy and Approach to Injury

11:19 The Importance of Causal Models in Injury Research

17:26 Predictability of Injuries: Challenges and Possibilities

23:06 Causality vs. Prediction: Different Approaches for Different Problems

29:42 The Limitations of Prediction and the Cost of Injury Prevention

35:12 Evaluating the Performance of Prediction Models

36:19 The Philosophy of Training Load

46:33 The Complexity of Hamstring Function

52:48 The Limitations of Exercises

53:46 Balancing Hyper-Conservatism and Individualized Approaches

Melbourne Athletic Development is a sports and injury management clinic based in Melbourne, Australia. To maximise your performance or optimise your injury management contact the team at www.melbourneathleticdevelopment.com.au