Thread by @Gareth_Sandford

A thread:

I have had a few questions about #innovation observed at @Tokyo2020 Olympic games.

Some frontline insight ⬇️on

• 'Super spikes'

• Cooling strategies

• Innovation lessons

Super spikes

A common question: ‘more force is better right?’

• Performance upside is high

• Injury risk also high

https://twitter.com/sweatscience/status/1416093497346695169?s=20

A spike in load is still a spike in load

A different distribution of forces may cause problems

Is the risk worth it 1 week from Olympic final?

Also...Not everyone can access the shoes (contracts)

https://twitter.com/TimGabbett/status/1196189182105804800?s=20

Recommendations:

• Progressive integration into sessions

• Have a strategy to manage expectations

• Prepare for dynamics of those who can access vs those who can’t

CC: @geoffreyburns @woutersinas @LauraHealey15 @BiomechMax

Cooling

• In particular ice hats

• On the surface, a great idea

• Well maybe…

• Perceptive cooling is positive

• Until you ‘overcool’ the brain

• This divorces how hot you feel with how hot you are

This can lead to

• Running too fast, because you feel good

• Consequently you overheat too quick

• This can lead to heat exhaustion and uncomfortable scenes. Example ⬇️

https://twitter.com/Scienceofsport/status/985496065964158976?s=20

Recommendation:

• Consider head cooling as an option in the tool box

But....don’t overdo it!

What are the innovation lessons?

• Asses 2nd/3rd order consequences of an intervention

• Minimize risk

• Decide your comfort with potential investment return

Questions to ask:

• Is the intervention increasing or decreasing risk?

• How can you minimize the risk?

• Does the idea fit the context of the task?

Strive for:

• Well drilled, interventions that minimize risk

• If done right can reduce performance variability in tough environments

Examples ⬇️

https://twitter.com/Gareth_Sandford/status/1295387766721662977?s=20