Don’t Try This at Home: Experts Warn Against Copying Olympic Performance

Physiotherapists and sports doctors are warning people not to practice Olympic events at home, due to a series of injuries to aspiring sports stars.

The Olympic Games uniquely combine activities that many people already do at a beginner or amateur level, such as tennis, football or running, with more complex, dangerous sports.

But those inspired by gymnast Simone Biles, BMX rider Kieran Reilly or diver Tom Daley risk serious injury or even their lives if they attempt a backflip, take both feet off the pedals in mid-air or attempt a handstand dive from the 10-metre platform, experts warn.

There are even enthusiastic novice competitors attempting their own versions of Olympic events at home, with many posting their efforts on social media. From synchronised swimming in the pool to gymnastics exercises on sofa cushions (not as easy as it sounds), the potential for injury is clear.

Matthew Harrison, an NHS physiotherapist and spokesperson for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, said he often saw patients who had injured themselves while playing an Olympic sport.

“We often see people come to physiotherapy (after watching the Olympics) and return to a sport they have previously played, or they are inspired to do something new and unfortunately sustain an injury during that activity.

“I saw a woman recently who was in a lot of pain and fortunately not broken (after I requested an x-ray) her shoulder after being lifted and put down after being inspired by women’s rugby where players are lifted to catch the high balls. Fortunately it was just a bruise and will get better with time and practice.

“Also damaged wrists of a man who, after watching the skateboarding, jumped on his son’s skateboard and fell off very quickly, landing on his wrist and arm to break his fall. This will take longer to repair.”

More acrobatic sports carry a higher risk of dangerous musculoskeletal and head injuries. “A backflip is a great thing to watch for those who have been practicing for years, but can be dangerous if you are new to it,” he adds. “Landing on your head is never good.”

Dr Tim Exell, senior lecturer in biomechanics and rehabilitation sciences at the University of Portsmouth, said: “These are all elite athletes in peak condition. If other people try to match their performance and the physical demands of their sport, it could lead to serious injury because they don’t have the flexibility required for a maximum effort sporting event such as the long jump, or the strength and technique for Olympic weightlifting.

“In more technical sports, there is a risk of serious injury when attempting a complex skill. If you see someone pole vaulting over a beam and think, ‘Oh, great, I can do that,’ that is much riskier. You need an incredible amount of control over how your body moves through the air, and if you jump from twenty or twenty feet up onto a mat and you do it wrong and land on your neck, that is going to result in a pretty horrific injury.”

Similarly, landing a dive or somersault incorrectly in gymnastics “could result in catastrophic or even fatal injuries,” he added.

Even everyday sports like swimming or running can cause injuries if not performed properly.

Dean Sutton, a strength and conditioning coach at Pure Sports Medicine, said: “I have had many triathletes across different age groups who have spent more and more time in the pool and then developed shoulder pain due to poor mobility and technique.”

Dr. John Rogers, one of the doctors for the British athletics team at the Games and a fellow of the Faculty of Sports and Exercise Medicinesaid the health benefits of light and moderate intensity exercise far outweigh the risks, but that new forms of exercise should be introduced gradually.

“The impact of Mo Farah’s double Olympic gold medal wins in the 5,000m and 10,000m at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games has undoubtedly contributed to the 150,000 or more children and adults across the UK who take part in parkrun every Saturday morning.

“Higher intensity, higher volume sports such as swimming, triathlon, track and field, rowing, cycling and sports with a high skill element such as gymnastics, boxing, tennis, golf and surfing require many years of training to reach the level we see at the Olympics. That said, everyone has to start somewhere. Injuries can be a great learning experience as we understand how to train safely and effectively and get the most out of our bodies.”

The key to preventing injuries in all sports is not to skimp on recovery time, Sutton said. “Athletes eat, sleep, train, repeat, every day. We mere mortals just don’t have time for that because we have full-time jobs and life commitments.” Not recovering properly can lead to overload training and, over time, can cause overuse injuries and fatigue.

But don’t try more complex sports at home, experts warn. Find a local club and learn under the guidance of qualified coaches who know what’s safe and how to progress.