During this session, I spent 1.5 hours providing Pregame treatment to the players of Argaum Men’s rugby club that required it. The first treatment included a taping of the shoulder for a supraspinatus impingement to help provide support and stability for the player during the game, followed by a few strengthening activities using a resistance band to warm up the muscles that would be used during the game. Next, a calf massage to help relieve the tension in the calf muscles followed by a MET to help stretch the muscles and provide a greater ROM for the player. This massage consisted of effleurage and petrissage and lasted 5 minutes on each leg to ensure the massage was superficial however, that the muscles were warmed up ready for the game. 

The next treatment was to help prevent cauliflower ears from occurring which is common in rugby players that play in the scrum due to the pressure and friction rubbing on the ears.  By taping them down it helps to reduce the friction and therefore reducing the risk of this happening. 

Another treatment done during this pregame session included a rigid taping of the thumbs to help provide stability and support for the player when catching the rugby ball at speed helping to prevent the thumb from being sprained. 

The final treatment of this session was the rigid taping of the ankle, this player has chronic instability of the ankle. During a pre-game session, he will arrive early to do proprioception work to help strengthen and stabilize the ankle before the team warm-up begins. this player wears a bandage that can be adjusted to a suitable level of compression, however, to provide more support, this player gets a basket weave (figure 8) rigid taping support for the ankle to help prevent ankle injury. This player has tried using K-taping techniques that stop the ankle from rolling laterally causing the most likely ATFL sprain however, they feel more support is provided by the rigid tapping and therefore that is the technique we use. 

Areas for Improvement:

During Pregame sessions, I have become increasingly confident when treating the players. Most of the players I see have the same treatment each week to help prevent injuries from occurring and they tend to stick to the same protocol before a game as they feel prepared and supported. This could be due to psychological reasons, however, I provide the treatments that are required of me and therefore do not feel as I have any improvements during this session as I have had the same treatments each week.