Prepare for Injuries like a Pro with Natasha McCann
Physical fitness plays a key role in success for rodeo athletes.
Success as a rodeo athlete requires a lot more than luck. In a sport where one bad ride can lead to a career-ending injury, taking care of your body can be the difference between a trip to the finals and a trip to the hospital.
We sat down with WSF provider Natasha McCann, a preventative and rehabilitative body work specialist and owner of McCann Athletic Therapy, to get her insight on how to prevent and prepare for injuries in rodeo.
Prepare for Disaster
Unlike in many other sports, serious injuries are inevitable in rodeo. That’s why Natasha’s methodology focuses not only on preventing injuries but also on preparing the body to recover when worst-case scenarios become reality.
“On the prevention side, we really focus on mobility, because that's going to make them less prone to extensive injuries when they get put in those extreme ranges of motion and extreme situations where these injuries occur,” Natasha shares. “To prepare for that, we get them moving in all ranges of motions, under load when appropriate.”
Workout routines should include focus on improving mobility and range of motion.
Many of those same exercises also help prepare the body for those inevitable injuries, which allows for a faster, more successful recovery and a quicker return to competition.
“When the injury occurs, they already have a strong foundation,” Natasha explains. “That preparation reduces the recovery time because they already have a foundation of musculature, strength, and range of motion so that they won't have as much downtime and they're able to recover and heal faster.”
Movement Matters
Although injuries differ across disciplines and individual athletes, there’s one that stands out in the sport of rodeo.
“Hip injuries are the most common across the board in any rodeo event, whether it's timed or rough stock,” Natasha reveals. “The hips are the epicenter of movement in the body, so we see that injury frequently across all events.”
Athletes in all disciplines of rodeo frequently face injuries in their hips.
Whether they’re swinging a leg over in the calf roping or stretching to stay on a twisting bull, rodeo athletes require extreme mobility to succeed in their sport.
“When we look at the movements and break that down what they actually have to do, range of motion and mobility become really vital,” Natasha continues. “Range of motion allows athletes to perform well without injury for the longest amount of time.”
Teamwork for the Win
For athletes at any level of competition, working with a specialist like Natasha to develop and maintain a fitness plan helps to decrease the frequency of injuries and lessen recovery time.
“Even coaches have coaches,” Natasha explains. “You can have all the self-discipline in the world, but it always helps to have an expert who can not only hold you accountable but also eliminate any self-limiting factors. Having someone that's going to see holes in your fitness or mobility and make you work on those builds discipline and develops habits that will help you in the arena and in all aspects of your life.”
Meet the Provider
Natasha McCann is the Owner of McCann Athletic Therapy and a Coach with Champion Living Fitness. She is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition in Sports Specialist, Emergency Medical Technician, and holds a Dual Board Certification in Clinical Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Manual Therapy, making her an industry leader for preventative and rehabilitative body work for Rodeo and Western Sports Athletes.