No matter you play games for fun or are involved in professional sports, injuries are very common in games. Musculoskeletal (MKS), such as dislocation, sprains, fractures, or strains, are some of the common injuries that usually occur in athletes. Additionally, due to the involvement in sports of various age groups, especially youngsters, drastic advancement in imaging machines has been seen in the last few decades.
Sports physicians, orthopedic surgeons, and radiologists have worked together and observed various patterns in injuries in various sports. They have captured dynamics in-game moments, aided in injury diagnosis and prevention, and played a vital role in the advancement of sports imaging technology. So, let’s find out the development in imaging technology that is making athletics life easier.
Advancement In Sports Imaging Technology: Making The Athletic Sports Safer
1] Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
MRI is new to people, and you must be familiar with this for various reasons. However, these cutting-edge technologies have evolved significantly in recent years. The new MRI machines offer better image quality and faster scanning time that help to reduce discomfort and improve diagnostic accuracy.
In sports, MRIs are being used to diagnose soft tissues like ligaments and tendons. Additionally, MRIs are being used by researchers to study the brain activity of an athlete and understand the impact of cognitive function, decision-making ability, and skill acquisition.
2] Ultrasound Imaging
Just like MRI, ultrasound imaging has also gone through various developments in sports medicine. They offer real-time imaging of muscles and joint movements, which are the biggest reasons for sports injuries.
These valuables help sports physicians study musculoskeletal injuries accurately and offer a customized treatment plan for an individual. This improvement in sports testaments is allowing athletes to recover from injuries more effectively.
3] CT Scan
Another technology that is advancing and making athlete’s life easier is computed tomography (CT) scan. These scanning images allow coaches, sports physicians, and even athletes to assess bone injuries easily.
These machines are advanced to offer clearer images of dislocated bones in joints, allowing doctors to treat them well. Additionally, coaches can analyze the sports person’s physical fitness and plan personalized training to improve their game.
4] Wearable Sensors
As we look further, wearable sensors are a new technology that has rapidly become common in various sports. Now, coaches and athletes are using this sensor to acquire real-time data on various track metrics and analyze the performance in the game.
Now, they are able to track the accurate heartbeat of a sportsperson, evaluate the body temperature, and provide a hydration level. Furthermore, wearable sensors also help to monitor the movement patterns and biomechanics of an athlete, which alerts them about poor form or risky movements that can lead to injury.
5] High-Resolution Sports Photography
Cameras are now becoming a crucial part of analyzing the player’s movement pattern and helping to avoid injuries in sports. The introduction of high-resolution sports photography in sports like track and swimming allows the evaluation of the body positioning and technique implemented by the player.
These imaging data are helping coaches and athletes identify the areas of improvement and refine their movements to achieve peak performance. They are also reducing the chances of injuries and promoting better training strategies for the players.
6] 3D Motion Capture
Just like sports photography, 3D motion capture is also revolutionizing sports imaging technology. Using this technology, coaches and players are now promoting more accurate injury management plans.
These imaging technologies employ multiple cameras and sensors to create three-dimensional movements of an athlete’s movements. This detailed information helps to understand the positioning, coordination, and agility of the player and reduce the risk of injury.
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Advancement In Sports Imaging Technology: A Game Changer
Besides the technologies mentioned above, 3D printing and custom orthotics, VR and AR technology, AI, and machine learning are some of the honorable mentioned. These technologies are also playing a crucial role in injury management and helping athletes achieve excellence in their game.
Implementing these inventions not only benefits professional players but is also useful for sports enthusiasts and fitness freaks. Now, we can say that this development of sports imaging technologies offers a promising future that will continue to shape the world of sports for years to come.
