Last week, we looked at what soccer can teach industrial athletes about stamina and preparing for repeated physical demands. This week, we’re keeping those cleats on and turning our attention to how we move.
From warming up before the work begins to keeping your feet moving when it’s time to change direction, there’s another lesson waiting on the pitch. And, as Ted Lasso reminds us, there’s apparently something to learn from day-old rice, too.
“Football is life!” is a lot easier to shout before you’ve run six miles.
Dani Rojas’ enthusiasm aside, soccer players are exceptionally good examples of what it takes to prepare a body for repeated physical demands. As we kick off September’s focus on fatigue and overexertion, we’re headed to the pitch for a few lessons the industrial athlete can put into practice.
New teachers. New schedules. New supplies. For a lot of students, back-to-school season means learning an entirely new routine. For others, it means coming back to something familiar and getting reacquainted with how things work.
There’s a workplace parallel in there. This week’s Digest looks at the higher injury risk that comes with being new on the job, while making the case that the “upperclassmen” can benefit from a refresher, too.
Heat exhaustion and heat stroke may get most of the attention when temperatures climb, but they aren’t the only risks that come with a hot workday. Heat can affect fatigue, concentration, coordination, reaction time, and physical performance long before someone feels “sick.” This week’s Digest looks at the less obvious ways rising temperatures can increase injury risk, indoors and out, and what teams can do to stay PREPARED when the heat is on.
We know exercise is important, but finding time for it? That can be a different story. The good news is that physical activity doesn’t have to mean carving out an hour for the gym. This week’s Digest looks at the exercise hiding in plain sight and how a little creativity can turn the time you already have into more opportunities to move.
Lost days are often the result of risks that go unaddressed long before someone misses work. This month, our Teamwork Prevents Lost Days & Time theme focuses on the habits, preparation, and teamwork that help industrial athletes stay healthy and resilient.
This week’s Digest compares industrial athletes to swimmers, where eliminating drag and maximizing efficiency can make all the difference. The same mindset helps reduce fatigue, improve movement, and prevent the injuries that lead to time away from work.
You’ve probably heard us say it before. You’ve probably heard us say it more than once, actually. But that’s kind of the point.
That’s because repetition is one of the most effective injury prevention tools we have. This week’s Digest explains why practicing safe movement over and over again is exactly how those habits stick.
One mistake doesn’t have to become two. This week’s Industrial Athlete Digest looks at what happens after something goes wrong. Using the mental approach of tennis players after an unforced error, we explore how industrial athletes can reset and avoid turning one mistake into a double fault.
Every experienced employee remembers what it was like to be the new hire. Learning the task is only part of the challenge. This week’s Industrial Athlete Digest highlights five common mistakes new hires may make and how veteran employees can help turn those moments into opportunities for growth.
Every workplace develops its own language. Acronyms, hand signals, shorthand, and routines all help work move faster… until someone doesn’t understand them. This week, we explore what industrial athletes can learn from doubles tennis about communicating clearly and preventing mistakes.
If tennis elbow is named after the sport, you’d expect professional tennis players to struggle with it the most, right? The opposite is true. This week, we compare the industrial athlete to the tennis athlete and explore why proper technique, progressive training, and consistent practice are some of the best defenses against injury on the court and in the workplace.
Wear and tear is inevitable. How quickly it accumulates isn’t. As we wrap up this month’s theme, we’re taking a closer look at one habit that can slow recovery and make it harder for the body to heal from everyday stress. This week’s Digest explores the connection between smoking and how the habit that affects recovery can also affect injury risk.
Every match requires a game plan, and recovery is no different. While amino acids may not get the same attention as protein, hydration, or exercise, they’re some of the hardest-working players on your body’s recovery team. This week’s Digest explores what amino acids are, why they matter, and a few simple ways to help your body recover from daily wear and tear.
World Cup rosters aren’t filled with 55-year-olds, but many workplaces are. While professional athletes often retire in their 30s, industrial athletes may spend decades performing physically demanding work. This week’s Digest looks at what aging means for the body, why wear and tear catches up with every athlete eventually, and how movement remains one of the best tools for staying capable, healthy, and in the game.
A volleyball outside hitter may take thousands of swings over the course of a season. An industrial athlete may perform thousands of overhead reaches, lifts, and motions in that same timeframe. Different uniforms. Different playing fields. Similar demands on the body.
This week, we’re kicking off June’s Teamwork Prevents: Injury Wear & Tear theme by examining what repetitive shoulder movements can teach us about staying strong, durable, and ready for the next shift.
For years, 10,000 steps a day has been treated like the gold standard for movement and health. But where did that number actually come from, and do you really need to hit it to see benefits?
This week’s Digest takes a closer look at the history behind the number, what the research actually says about daily movement, and why consistency matters far more than chasing a perfect step count.
Last week, we looked at why pushing through nagging injuries can create bigger problems down the road. This week’s Digest focuses on the next step: recognizing what your body is trying to tell you before discomfort becomes something more serious.
What starts as tightness, soreness, or limited movement is often an early signal worth paying attention to. Small adjustments and intentional recovery habits can make a major difference in preventing repeat injuries.
You’ve trained for it, prepared for it, and pushed through discomfort before, so what’s one more time? This week’s feature takes a closer look at nagging injuries through the lens of the sunk cost fallacy and why the more we invest in something, the harder it becomes to step away, even when our body is telling us otherwise.
May is here, and with it comes a new focus: Teamwork Prevents Repeat Injuries. This month, we’re taking our cues from track & field, where success isn’t built on a single performance, but on how well the body handles repeated demands over time. In this week’s feature, we spotlight the connection between the track athlete and the industrial athlete, highlighting how different events share the same physical expectations seen on the job.
Unforced errors don’t just happen on the baseball field. They show up in the choices we make every day, especially when it comes to how we take care of our bodies. This week’s last Close Calls & Near Misses feature takes a closer look at how those decisions impact not just how long we live, but how well we’re able to live along the way.
We’re really leaning into the baseball of it all in this one. In the game, there’s a rare player known as a “five-tool” athlete, someone who can hit for average, hit for power, field, run, and throw at an elite level.
If we were to compare that kind of all-around player to the industrial athlete, what would those tools look like? And how do they show up in how we prepare for and execute our work? Find out in this week’s Digest.
Sometimes the people closest to the action have the clearest view. In baseball, it’s a quick tap of the hat. On the job, it’s recognizing when something doesn’t sit right. This week’s feature takes a closer look at those moments and what it means to say something when you see it.
Not every close call looks like one in the moment. Sometimes it shows up as a rough night of sleep, a missed pre-shift warm-up, or just feeling a step off. This week’s Industrial Athlete Digest takes a closer look at what puts us in position to catch those moments early, before they turn into something more.
April steps onto the diamond with Close Calls & Near Misses, where the moments that almost go wrong deserve a second look. This week’s feature connects baseball to the demands placed on the shoulder and elbow, highlighting how repeated strain and missed warning signs can turn a small issue into something more.
Some pain comes and goes. Other times, it sticks around. And when it does, it’s rarely just about the physical. Chronic pain is closely tied to anxiety and depression, often showing up together and influencing how we think, move, and perform. This week’s Industrial Athlete Digest takes a closer look at how pain can build and start affecting more than just the body.
Work, responsibilities, and daily demands can take up more space than we realize. This week’s Industrial Athlete Digest looks at the role hobbies play in supporting mental health, using golf as one example of how stepping away, staying active, and focusing on something enjoyable can help reset the mind and body. Take a few minutes to read and consider what helps you recharge outside of work.
We often recognize warning signs from our bodies – hunger, thirst, fatigue – but there’s another signal that’s easier to overlook: loneliness. This week’s Industrial Athlete Digest explores how social connection impacts not only our health but also our focus, creativity, and performance at work. Take a moment to read and consider how small moments of connection can make a big difference for you and your team.
Some sports are loud. Golf is not one of them. No buzzer beaters. No body checks. Just a quiet reminder around hole 12 that your mechanics might not be as solid as you thought. Funny how that works.
This month’s Teamwork Prevents focus is Quiet Struggles, and we’re teeing it up with a look at what golf can teach the industrial athlete. Repetition adds up and mechanics matter, because consistency is built long before it’s tested.
The ice storm moving through this week is a sharp reminder that risk doesn’t wait for the shift to start. Slick pavement, hidden ice, and hurried steps can turn an ordinary walk from the car into the most dangerous part of the day.
This week’s Digest looks at why prevention begins in the parking lot and why small decisions make a big difference before you ever reach the door.
There’s always another way down. A faster way. A way that looks just a little more exciting. This week’s Digest takes a closer look at why the well-worn path exists for a reason, and what “sticking to the trail” really means for industrial athletes who want to finish strong and come back ready for the next run.
Familiar routines and routes can make it easy to move on autopilot. When comfort sets in, shortcuts often follow, and that’s where risk tends to show up.
This week’s Digest looks at what navigating moguls can teach industrial athletes about awareness, decision-making, and why slowing down and choosing your line matters more than rushing through the workday.
What do snow sports and Industrial Athletes have in common? That’s what we answer in this week’s Digest. From preparation to form techniques, there is a lot more in common than you may think! Read on to find out more.
Some lifts are better shared. When a task gets heavy, awkward, or unpredictable, going it alone can turn a routine move into a risky one. This week’s Digest looks at buddy lifting, and why knowing when to call for backup is one of the simplest ways to avoid the hero lift.
We’re also highlighting a quick Work Right warm-up routine designed to prep the body for lifting. Try it out!
Some of the riskiest lifts are the ones that don’t look risky at all. When size, shape, or familiarity tricks your judgment, it’s easy to move too fast or try to handle more than you should. This week’s Digest takes a closer look at why sizing up a load matters, and how slowing down the decision is one of the best ways to steer clear of the hero lift.
Once you’re “engaged” to the setup of a lift, everything changes. The rush disappears, the movement feels more intentional, and the lift stops being a gamble. Just like any good commitment, it’s not about making things harder, it’s about making them more reliable. This week’s Digest breaks down how staying engaged before and during the lift leads to better control, fewer breakdowns, and stronger teamwork on the floor.
A new year brings a new campaign. In 2026, Teamwork Prevents takes the spotlight, reinforcing that injury prevention is never a solo effort. With the NHL season in full swing, January opens by drawing clear parallels between hockey and industrial work, where fast pace, shifting conditions, and shared responsibility demand trust, coordination, and preparation from every teammate. Check it out in this first Industrial Athlete Digest of 2026.
