The Alarm Bells Are Ringing: A Call to Action From a Newly Retired Professional Athlete.

Abstract

The total load on elite athletes is too high. There is no easy solution to this problem-athletes, coaches, and managers do not want to lower their ambitions. We cannot wait to address the problem until athletes start complaining, because elite athletes do not complain. We proudly push our bodies beyond the limits, and that is our trademark. Very few athletes will risk their position by admitting they can't deal with the load. What I need you to take seriously is that athletes who are passionate about their sport often lose the ability to think rationally about load and injuries. This Viewpoint is about athletes who sometimes under-report or ignore their injuries and whose concerns are not taken seriously. I want to start a discussion: how do we in the elite sports community ensure load is manageable across the athlete's career? <i>J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2020;50(4):170-172. doi:10.2519/jospt.2020.0604</i>.