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How Texas A&M Women’s Basketball Used Data to Prevent Knee Injuries

Knee injuries are a major concern in women’s basketball, with ACL injuries accounting for a significant portion of these issues. Managing player workload is key to injury prevention, but achieving the right balance between training and recovery is challenging. The Texas A&M Women’s Basketball team faced this dilemma and turned to a data-driven approach to optimize player health and performance.

Managing Workload to Reduce Injury Risk

When Texas A&M introduced a new player to the team, they encountered an all-too-common issue — knee swelling after high-intensity training. The coaching and performance staff needed a solution that would allow her to train effectively while minimizing injury risk. 
Drew Smith, a Sports Science PhD Fellow at Texas A&M, collaborated with the team’s Performance & Wellness staff to explore ways to track and control workload. Their challenge: How can we proactively prevent knee swelling and keep players at peak performance? 

Data-Informed Load Management with KINEXON Sports

To tackle this issue, coaches leveraged KINEXON Sports’ technology to gain insights into player movement and workload. By utilizing real-time data analytics from the KINEXON PERFORM IMU solution, they were able to tailor training plans, ensuring optimal performance without unnecessary strain. Through a strategic approach to load monitoring, the team identified a key workload threshold that helped maintain player health while sustaining game-day readiness. The athlete was able to make informed decisions about her participation in specific drills and exercises, ensuring she remained within safe training limits. 

The Results: A Proactive Approach to Athlete Health

By integrating KINEXON Sports’ technology and real-time analytics, Texas A&M successfully minimized knee injuries throughout the season. When asked about how the coaching staff bought into utilizing personalized player data related to injury risks, Drew said, ​“We wouldn’t be able to effectively use this data if everyone wasn’t on board, and I can’t thank this staff enough for allowing us to use this data to aid in decision making.

Want to learn how Texas A&M successfully implemented this data-informed strategy? Download the complete case study to uncover the details behind their groundbreaking approach!

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