#680 - Henry Abbott: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance

In this conversation, Henry Abbott discusses his transition from sports media to writing a book on injury prevention, "Ballistic: The New Science of Injury-Free Athletic Performance." Blending cutting-edge science with gripping storytelling, award-winning data journalist and competitive amateur athlete Henry Abbott reveals that we are on the cusp of a new era in sports medicine, built around the science of ballistic movements―leaping and landing―and the unique fingerprint of your body’s physics. Abbott’s inspiring narrative tells the story of sports scientist Dr. Marcus Elliott and the Peak Performance Project (P3), who use technology to study how athletes move and why they get hurt. Applying machine learning and lessons from biomechanics, medicine, and physiology, doctors at P3 can now detect elevated risk of an ACL tear or a pulled hamstring like an echocardiogram can see warning signs of a heart attack. Their data-driven findings are full of surprises. Your body’s most important defense against knee and ankle injuries are the little-known muscles in the lower leg and hip area, which typical workouts rarely target. Similarly, the glutes―not the core―do the most to prevent back pain. Transformative benefits flow from training underappreciated kinds of athleticism like rotation, deceleration, and relaxation. Most of all, science shows that the best athletes don’t avoid ballistics―they master them. Through riveting stories of elite athletes overcoming injuries and pushing themselves to the limit, Abbott presents an evidence-based case for intervening early to protect our bodies. And he suggests that we can all harness the science of ballistic movement not just to run fast or jump high but to move with joy and lead fulfilling athletic lives. You can buy Henry's book here: https://a.co/d/a2B0Bp4. Sponsors ASICS - Checkout the upcoming Novablast 5 and pre-order this amazing shoe at www.asics.com. Peregrune - I've been using Peregrune supplements, including their Runner Multivitamin and Runner Joint, everyday since 2023 and for good reason. They are NSF and third-party tested. They are also for runner, created by runners. Save 15% on your purchase at www.peregrune.com by using code "RAMBLING" at checkout. Boulderthon - Named among the Top 10 races in the U.S. by USA Today and one of the Best Fall Marathons by Runner’s World, Boulderthon, is quickly becoming a must-run event for runners across the country. Whether you’re up for a 5K, 10K, half-marathon, or the marathon, Boulderthon offers a race for every level of runner. Sign up today at Boulderthon.org and use code Rambling20 for $20 off the 13.1 or 26.2! See you in Boulder! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices