The physiotherapist as part of the football team

Sports physiotherapy is the specialized branch of physiotherapy that deals with the prevention and prevention of injuries and trauma associated with a given sport.The workload of professional athletes is very high and this leads to maximum stress on muscles, joints and bones, which determines the great importance in the daily work of the physiotherapist with the athlete.

Physiotherapists have been the mainstay of medical care in football for the last 50 years.For most people, their main role might be to stand by the touch line with bulky bags and bandage or spray players with a cooling spray when needed.But this is far from the case:

• Assessment and diagnosis of the musculoskeletal system of players, as well as the implementation of various treatments and prevention.
• Provide individualized programs and injury prevention programs based on past medical history, and injury trends with the goal of increasing player performance on the football field from a medical standpoint.
• Report all injuries to the coaching staff and provide updates on the progress of player rehabilitation.
• Attend player consultations with surgeons, medical staff, MRIs, etc.
• Complete comprehensive medical records for all professional players with whom they have had contact in order to track history and develop an individual plan to improve physical performance.

Much of the physiotherapist's job begins with pre-season screening. Weaknesses are identified and advice is given on areas that need to be improved. Pre-season training is vital to ensure a successful season. Issues including muscle control, muscle flexibility and joint mobility,loading are assessed. Information from the screening sessions can then be an integral part of the players conditioning program.

Physiotherapists are very close to trainers. Sometimes a coaching staff comes to a new team together with a physiotherapist because they are used to each other and the work goes much more smoothly. A curious fact is,that some physiotherapists become coaches in the future.

On the day of the football match, the physiotherapist's work begins long before the referee signals the start of the match. Physiotherapists are an integral part of the football team's health and training plan. They monitor players' general well-being, including hydration and sleep levels, heart rate, and joint/muscle health. They can also provide joint mobilisation, massage and stretching before training. If necessary, sports tape (tape) is applied to individual players. Another role is for them to complete a fitness test with players returning from injury - to confirm their readiness to play.

During the football game, physiotherapists are key figures on each team's team. They must be able to diagnose, formulate a plan and treat injured players in a very short time. They are also involved in making the critical decision as to whether the player is fit to continue playing.

It is essential that they remain calm under immense pressure - spectators, coaching staff and the rest of the squad, closely monitor the assessment and management of injured players.

After the final whistle, physiotherapists continue to play a key role. They must assess and treat any minor injuries received during the game. They also prescribe ice baths and massages after the game when necessary and are involved in structuring recovery workouts the day after the game. More serious injuries require imaging and a consultation with a medical specialist, which the physiotherapist attends with the player.

Sources:

• Octo