The NBA recently shared the findings of an extensive study with its teams, which found no clear connection between load management (resting players for recovery) and a reduction in the risk of injury. This research, which spans ten years of data, was conducted by sports medicine experts who examined the effects of the regular season schedule, game frequency, and the load players carry. The study sought to address concerns regarding load management, particularly whether constant rest, such as missing back-to-back games, effectively prevents serious injuries.
For years, some within the league questioned whether players who rested frequently were truly avoiding injury risks. This study seems to affirm that there’s no strong link between rest and reduced injury rates. However, this conclusion is not an outright dismissal of load management practices but instead highlights that other factors, like previous injuries, surgeries, and player age, maybe more influential in determining injury risks. The study underscores that a balance of rest and recovery is necessary, as emphasized by Dr. John DiFiori.
The growing trend of players, especially star athletes, sitting out games without legitimate injury concerns has caused frustration among fans and media partners. The league recognized the negative impact on its perception, as well as the potential business consequences. In response to this, the NBA implemented the Player Participation Policy to encourage healthy players to compete and penalize teams that violated the guidelines, which were negotiated with the players’ union.
The study, authored by Dr. John DiFiori, Dr. Christina Mack, and Dr. Mackenzie Herzog, also acknowledges that load management is not without merit. They clarified that their research does not claim that load management doesn’t work but rather that it doesn’t necessarily lower injury rates. Dr. Mack, in particular, noted that the data did not show a reduction in injuries when players took rest. The report, however, places emphasis on the increase in games missed by star players over the years, with the number rising from an average of 10.6 games per season in the 1990s to 23.9 games per season in the 2020s.
Over the years, NBA teams have increasingly relied on larger medical and performance staffs, with these departments now playing a significant role in decisions regarding player participation. This shift in responsibility means that the medical and performance teams now hold substantial influence over whether players rest or play, sometimes diverging from the traditional norms set by coaching and management. With this new data in hand, teams have a more informed perspective on player load management, and it may influence future decisions regarding how players are rested during the season.
