ProRodeo Sports News - January 12, 2018

WNFR RECAP

unsanctioned events. “You can hit the gym as hard as you want, but unfortunately in our sport you’re going to get hurt. It’s part of it and you have to build off it.” Cowboys injured at WNFR healing up for new season On the Mend R.C. Landingham was among the 41 cowboys to receive treatment during the WNFR. Working with the Justin Sportsmedicine team helped this California bareback rider cover nine of his 10 rides. PRCA ProRodeo Photo by Phil Doyle

BY MATT NABER L uck isn’t guaranteed in Las Vegas and rodeo is a gamble since it’s never a matter of if, but when, an injury is going to happen.

PREPARATION LEADSTO PREVENTION “The numbers (of injuries) weren’t overly high and there weren’t many serious injuries, and that’s a testament that more so than any other year, the guys came in in better shape,” Foster said. “Being in top physical shape, you reduce the chance of injuries and severity of an injury.” As in previous years, the Justin Sportsmedicine team had about 25 personnel floating in and out of the WNFR with about a dozen on hand for each round. The team administered 582 treatments among 41 athletes. “We had a consistent group of 30 guys who were there,” Foster said. “Obviously, bareback leads the group because it’s the most physically demanding event.” Most of the rounds were fairly consistent with about 50 treatments each night. Round 4 was the busiest for the Justin Sportsmedicine team, as they conducted 70 treatments for 38 athletes. Round 8 was close behind with 69 treatments for 34 athletes.

ProRodeo’s highest stakes are during the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER, and every cowboy wants to stay in the fold. Cowboys can sway the odds in their favor by keeping ahead of the injury cycle with a combination of medical treatment and physical health. This year’s WNFR cowboys arrived in peak physical condition, which minimalized the number and severity of injuries. “They were riding better, stronger and longer,” said Rick Foster, program director for Justin Sportsmedicine. “It sure seemed like we had fewer severe injuries than in the past.” Throughout the 10 rounds of the 2017WNFR, only two cowboys were taken out of competition, bull rider Brennon Eldred in Round 5, due to a concussion, and bareback rider Jake Vold in Round 8 with a dislocated knee. “I’ve been working it hard this past year,” Eldred said, estimating that he rode about 185 bulls throughout 2017 between PRCA rodeos and

ProRodeo Sports News 1/12/2018

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