Injury Prevention, Public Health

How to fall without getting hurt

Humans have a problem with falling down. More accurately, we have a problem with getting hurt when we fall. Mix Earth’s gravity with our upright walking, and there is a non-zero chance that everyone will take a spill someday. Falling is inevitable. It’s the getting injured part that doesn’t have to happen. Although fall-related injuries …

Injury Prevention, Parkour

2016 Parkour Injury Survey Summary

Anecdotal advice about parkour injuries is easy to encounter. Unfortunately, that type of guidance only works for an underground tribe. As a sport enters the mainstream, a more complete strategy is needed. With dozens of gyms and tens thousands of new athletes joining our ranks, it is time to get serious about parkour injury prevention. Ryan …

Injury Prevention

Achilles Tears and Parkour

Hearing your body pop unexpectedly is an athlete’s worst nightmare. It happened to me once when I was 15 years old. I went to toss a front flip during gymnastics practice, and as soon as I punched the ground, my leg popped like a mini thunderclap. After crashing on the spring floor, I looked down to …