With injury in sports like football rising on a daily basis, it is no surprise that more money is being spent in sports science to seek ways of reducing injury problems that affect players from time to time. For example, during the 2009/2010, Arsenal FC manager, Arsene Wenger, is reported to have had to contend with as many as 12 injured players at the same time, in the Barclays English Premier League (EPL). When such injuries occur, the effects could be crucial, particularly if it happens to important players such as Cesc Fabregas, Lionel Messi or Wayne Rooney, and at important periods of the season such as during the knock out stage of the champions league campaign or relegation battle. Take for example, the possible cost that premiership clubs such as West Ham or Blackpool might have to play if Scot Parker (England) or Charlie Adams (Scotland) were injured, at this point in time, for the rest of the season or even Major League Soccer’s (MLS) LA Galaxy missing an important player like David Beckham.
So then, the introduction of new technology that can monitor players’ fatigue levels, in clubs such as Arsenal is a welcome development. In a bid to prevent injuries at all cost, the GPS system tracks training movements of every single player on the field and produces a huge amount of data relating to how far players are running and their levels of intense activity during training sessions. Furthermore, it measures ‘the load’ i.e. the amount of time a player’s foot is on the ground while he is running so as to show if a player is at high risk of injury in the next game. Players at high risk will be indicated if their work-rate goes down in training or their “load” increases. However, to get the full benefit of the system, a long record of individual players’ are needed and this usually takes quite a long time so clubs taking advantage of this cutting edge technology may not begin to see the results for a while yet.
Talking Point
What role should medicine play in sports?
13 Comments
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Jay
March 28, 2011 at 10:32 pm
I don’t see anything wrong in integrating advanced medicine in sports. If anything, it must be a good thing.
Tony
March 29, 2011 at 1:56 pm
There’s a club in England which has recently started trialling a system like this.
I can’t quite recall what they’re known as, but it looks as if they’re about to trial this for a good period.
Maggie
March 30, 2011 at 12:07 am
With as much money as clubs put into their players, I actually think it’s fairly brilliant to integrate such a technology to help them. Of course, I can see the players not going for it it, but if it can help both the team and the player’s longevity, how can it be harmful?
Admin
April 14, 2011 at 5:26 pm
Thanks for the comment Maggie. Well said.
bcd
April 7, 2011 at 12:39 am
wow, another innovative creation. sports world is blessed!
Odurinde
April 15, 2011 at 7:48 am
The GPS tracking is a welcome development in sport, it will go a long in helping players and the club to monitor players injury and how they are doing in training.
jo
May 5, 2011 at 8:29 pm
There is a problem with this device, that needs to measure a player’s fatigue by his data and not by general data. And that means that the need to collect lots of data. And it takes some time. It is interesting to follow.
jo –
dido
May 21, 2011 at 6:44 am
hello there! thats a brilliant idea …..that can reduce using drugs in sports i hope this sistem will start working as soon as possible cause in a case of injury not only the player is injured but all the group and more …. most of the time the doctor gives the player a medicine that will help him to go back on filed as soon as possible and it is mostly not the most recommended treatment… big money plays here more than health.
amanda
March 27, 2012 at 1:37 am
GPS gives a lot of benefit to me specially when im going on out of town trip with my family. it gives me an accurate direction to some unfamiliar places…
Seanie McEniff
May 22, 2012 at 11:50 am
With the GPS device it is much easier to calculate the amount of exertion and muscular activity. Thus helpful in modifying the fitness schedule accordingly.
K.H.
April 27, 2013 at 4:04 pm
Wow, this is great. I would love to know and it can save from sports injuries (so my favorite players can get back out on the field!). Great article!
Partin
December 16, 2013 at 4:45 am
If this tech was created in my age,I think I would not get so much hurt!It’s another amazing tech for sporters.
new
March 28, 2014 at 2:10 am
Thanks for sharing, I love arsenal.