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Muscles and Management
Over the last near decade, Gerry DeFilippo has trained THOUSANDS of athletes from the youth to pro level across all major team-sports.
Gerry started his gym and brand, Challenger Strength, as an ambitious 22 year old still finishing his college degree.
In the time since, he has built his facility and following into a nationally recognized performance company training thousands of athletes both in-person and online.
Gerry brings guests across all areas of sports and performance training, giving the listener inside access to his rolodex of collegiate, world renowned private and professional performance and sports coaches.
If you are looking to improve your own performance OR knowledge of performance/sports training (and learn how to shape your career), Muscles and Management is for you!
Muscles and Management
Episode #247 Reducing Injury Likelihood in Athletes: Practical Strategies and Real-World Insight
Send us your questions, or thoughts on today's episode!
In this solo episode, Gerry dives into one of the most requested topics: how to actually reduce the likelihood of injury in sports. He breaks down the difference between injury reduction vs. injury prevention, highlighting the limits of control in high-intensity, contact sports.
Gerry shares how consistent, well-rounded training builds resilient athletes, the importance of training volume and intensity management, and why you can’t just avoid injuries with perfect warm-ups or corrective exercises. He explains how to balance sport-specific demands, avoid overuse, and structure smart recovery—all while acknowledging the chaotic, unpredictable nature of sport.
This is a must-listen for coaches, trainers, and athletes who want real, no-nonsense strategies to keep players healthy, prepared, and on the field.
0:00 – Introduction: What “injury prevention” really means
2:03 – Difference between injury reduction vs. prevention
4:15 – Importance of managing training volume and intensity
6:58 – Why chaos in sport makes true prevention impossible
9:47 – Most injuries happen when something is overloaded
12:01 – What coaches can actually control
13:50 – Warm-ups and mobility vs. actual injury reduction
15:25 – Role of strength and power in staying healthy
18:08 – Athletes doing “more” isn’t always better
20:02 – Managing stress and recovery to reduce risk
21:33 – Why training needs to mimic sport demands
24:11 – The value of consistency and long-term development
26:27 – Common mistakes coaches make in trying to prevent injury
28:52 – Final thoughts: Control what you can, prepare for what you can’t
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