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Adam C. Cady knows human performance. As the Chief Medical Officer at Raincross High Performance, he spends his time with athletes helping them identify, develop, and maximize their strengths while overcoming their weaknesses. He is passionate about helping athletes reach their peak performance and has co-founded a health equity non-profit to reach athletes in underserved areas.
We sat down to chat with him about current trends in the high-performance industry and how they are shaping the future of sports medicine.
Trend #1: Integration of Data and Care in Sports Medicine
A recent McKinsey study found that people want more personalization in their health and wellness care. Integrating and leveraging technology and data allows providers to improve how they assess, track, treat and improve the care of athletes and patients.
Trend #2: Shifting Towards Preventative, Holistic Care for High Performers
The pandemic drastically changed how healthcare providers interacted with their patients. It forced them to rely on new technology and tools to help their patients affect change in their lives. Combined with research that shows…
Functional medicine leads to better health outcomes and better athletic performance.
…the industry is slowly shifting to focus on those preventative care aspects that have been neglected.
Trend #3: Technology Continues to Improve Athlete Health & Performance
As technology advances, whether it’s wearables, advanced imaging, or even phone or computer apps, it will give providers access to more and better data about broader populations. A greater emphasis on objective data will help both the care team to make better decisions and for the athlete to reach better overall health and performance outcomes.
Trend #4: More Awareness & Less Stigma Around Mental Health Care
Mental health has a proven impact on athletic performance. As levels of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues arise in the country, the sports industry as a whole is becoming more aware of the link between mental health and better health outcomes overall. While overcoming stigma and shifting opinions on this topic has been hard, we are seeing many healthcare providers breaking through these barriers and helping coaches, athletes, and the sports community as a whole to see the critical importance of mental health.
Trend #5: More Specialized, Personalized Data
As technology advances, providers will have access to highly specialized analytics that will help us dial in better injury and exercise prescriptions that can shorten rehab times and reduce injury risk.
One exciting prediction Adam has is his belief that as current technology advances, it will become more readily available and easier to incorporate, leading to more equitable health outcomes and performance for athletes at all levels.
Equity is an important part of the future of high-performance medicine. Youth sports serve a huge number of kids and they have a great need for performance-focused care but that care is not equally distributed. However, many health practitioners are recognizing this inequity and are making changes in practice to address this.
For more from high performance specialist Adam Cady, follow him on LinkedIn and subscribe to the AT Last Podcast.
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