D90 Reflections

D90 reflections

Date of placement: 1/12/2021

Hours acquired: 2

Aims/ objectives for starting todays placement: As this will be my first session with the Plymouth Argyle women’s football team, my main aim is to understand what will be required of me during this placement and my role within the team.

Roles/ activity undertaken: During this session I acquired information about the team which I will be working with, including their pervious and current injuries and any rehabilitation which they are currently undergoing. This is important as if one of the players becomes injured while I am on placement I will know about any pervious history which may impact this. I was also able to shadow my placement supervisor working with the 1st team for the majority of the placement which enable me to understand how the team operates and my responsibilities and roles which I will be undergoing during this placement.

Evaluation of todays placement: On reflection of todays placement I feel that I gained confidence working within a new environment and that this will give me more confidence when working pitch side alone. As I was able to communicate with the players and shadow my placement supervisor this made me feel more comfortable as I was enable me to understand what my roles will be and how to tackle certain situations.  However, I feel that I should have asked more questions as I finished the session unclear of if I was going to be working with the under 23s alone for majority of the placement or be put with another student or placement. Therefore, next time I will ensure that if I am not certain of anything to ask.

 

Date of placement: 05/12/2021

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 6

Roles/ activity undertaken: During this session I started my placement working with the Plymouth Argyle under 23s women’s football team, which is the team I will be working with throughout my placement. Here the team had a football game therefore, it was my responsibility to ensure the players were fit and ready and to reduce the risk of injuries occurring. Pre game, I performed two soft tissue massages on the calf’s due to tightness within the Achilles, tapped the ankle for added support and stability using ridged tape due to a previous ankle sprain and helped lead the warm up session, including static and dynamic stretches, band exercises and heart raiser exercises to prepare the players for serious exercise. During the game one of the players got knocked down due to a collision to the ankle in which I decided it would be best for the player not to continue with the game as I suspected an ankle sprain. For this I tried to follow the LOVE and PEACE protocol in order to aid recovery. therefore, I got the player to elevate their leg and put an ice pack on the ankle joint in order to reduce the swelling and pain. I also used cohesive bandage as a compression to reduce swelling and so the ice pack could still be used on top. Post game I helped lead the cool down session, which the main focus was to relax the muscles and reduce heart rate. I also provided soft tissue massages to the players hamstrings, quadriceps and calf’s due to tightness and preformed PNF stretching in order to relax the muscles after intense exercise to prevent tightness from occurring and improve range of motion.

Evaluation of todays placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I was able to adapt to a new environment quickly and I undertook the roles which I was expected and instructed to do, including soft tissue massage, applying taping techniques for different injuries and injury prevention, providing pitch side care and aiding with the pre and post warm up and cool down sessions. However, I feel that confidence is an area which I could improve on as during the pre and post warm up and cool down sessions I was encouraged to further project my voice, slow down and be confident in what I was delivering to the team with the instructions/ exercises which I was providing. Over the course of this placement I want to be able to develop my confidence so that I will be combatable and confident in delivering these pre and post warm up and cool down sessions individually. In order to help me with improving my confidence when delivering these exercises, before the next session I will ensure that I research specific football based pre and post exercises which I can include within the warm up and cool down so that I will be more assertive and confident during my delivery as I would have planned ahead.

References:

 

Date of placement: 08/12/2021

Hours acquired: 2

Total Hours: 8

Roles/ activity undertaken: During this session my main roles were to assess the injured player from the pervious game, carry out the pre and post warm up and cool sessions individually, attend to any players who needed treatment such as massage or taping, and ensure all player were fit and able to play the following match. As one of the players had to come off during the pervious match to this training session due to an ankle sprain from a collision with another player, it was my responsibility to ensure that the player was making a healthy recovery by assessing the injury and the progress made. For this injury, I also applied cohesive bandage as the ankle joint was still quite swollen. Due to this injury, it will be my responsibility to create a rehabilitation plan to improve stability and strengthen the ankle joint. One of the players was experiencing some tightness and cramping within the right calf, therefore, I provided a soft tissue massage in order to reduce the tightness and applied kinesiology tape on the effected area in order to reduce the muscle spasms.

Evaluation of todays placement: On reflection of todays placement, I was able to effectively re assess the injury from the previous session, where the injury occurred to ensure that the ankle joint was healing well with the help of my supervisor. Due to this injury, I will need to create a rehabilitation program which consists of ankle stability and strengthening exercises in order to strengthen the ankle joint and prevent re- injury from occurring. In order to create this rehab program I will be required to do some research. As one of the players was experiencing some tightness within the right calf, I applied a soft tissue massage with the aim to decrease this. I felt that this was an effective treatment, however, I could have used stretching techniques in conjunction with the massage as these would have been simple exercises for the player to carry out, ensuing the treatment was quick and more effective. The player was also experiencing cramping within the affected calf, therefore I applied Kinesiology tape in order to reduce this. I was able to apply the tape correctly, remembering the round off the corners as this is something which I have forgotten to do in the past and providing the patient with information about how long the tape should be kept of for e.c.t.

References:

 

Date of placement: 05/01/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 10

Roles/ activity undertaken: The aim of this session was to help improve the players strength and speed (strength and agility training). One of the activates which took place during this session was resistant band training. Here one player would be holding the resistant band while another player runs as fast as possible, working against the resistance from the band and other player. The other activity which took place during this session was parachute running which involved the players spiriting from one end to the other, trying to keep the parachute up which was also providing resistance and while racing against each other. the main objective of these drills is to increase functional power which would help generate faster accelerations and increase maximum speed. These resisted training drills help to do this by increasing the players speed – to strength ration which will therefore, improve their ability to generate a greater force during sprint starts or accelerations while running. The team also had a practice game during this session, in which one of the players got injured from a strike to the shin during a collision with another player. For this I applied ice to the area and the player was able to continue with the game.

Evaluation of todays placement: On reflection of todays placement, I was able to learn new techniques and agility based exercise drills which I will be able to use within the future for prehab and training programs when working with individuals or with a team. During this session I also was able to see and learn about the benefits which resistance training has for not just football players but for all athletes such as increasing running and acceleration speed. In addition, even though one of the players become injured during the practice game, they was able to continue after a couple minuets off the pitch, therefore this showed me that not all players who need to come off will be seriously injured and after a short time of rest they may be able to continue and go back on to play.

References:

  • McEvoy, K. P., & Newton, R. U. (1998). Baseball Throwing Speed and Base Running Speed: The Effects of Ballistic Resistance Training. The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 12(4), 216.
  • Faigenbaum, A. D., Lloyd, R. S., MacDonald, J., & Myer, G. D. (2015). Citius, Altius, Fortius: beneficial effects of resistance training for young athletes: Narrative review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(1), 3–7. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-094621
  • Mendez-Villanueva, A., & Buchheit, M. (2013). Football-specific fitness testing: adding value or confirming the evidence? Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(13), 1503–1508. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.823231

 

Date of placement: 09/01/ 2o22

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 14

 Roles/ activity undertaken: During this session the main roles which I undertook were ensuing the player were ready for the match, treating any injuries, preventing players from sustaining injuries during, providing pitch side care and providing a post cool down session to ensure players fully cooled down and stretched after the game to prevent soreness or injuries occurring. Before the game I provided two soft tissue massages, one on the calf’s and one on the hamstrings due to tightness. I also held a small stretching session  with the players after their warm up which focused on stretching out the hamstrings and calf’s as many of the players were experiencing tightness within these areas. These stretching exercises included using the exercise bands as shown in the pictures below. During the game one player had to come off due to a tight muscle which was causing muscle cramping. For this I provided a light soft tissue massage on the  affected area as I did not want to aggravate the muscle anymore, I carried on PNF stretching to reduce the tightness and used Kineso tape to help relieve the pain and muscle cramping. During the game, I had to run onto the pitch as one of the players had a collision with another player which caused a deep cut to the shin form the players studs on the boot, just below the knee. For this I cleaned the cut and applied a Gauze bandage to the area in order to help prevent the bleeding and sent the player to get it checked out immediately. The player had to get 7 stiches. After the game, I provided a cool down session, including dynamic and static stretches.

Evaluation of todays placement: On reflection of todays placement I felt a bit overwhelmed at the end as this was the first time I had to run onto the pitch and provide pitch side care to a player individually. However, I felt that I followed the correct procedure, ensuring that the cut was clean and by reducing the bleeding as much as possible before the player was able to get further accessed and have the stiches to close the cut. As the player was very shocked and upset due to the injury, while treating the cut, I was ensuring to speak to the player, reassuring them in order to calm the player and situation down which I felt was the correct action to take at the time. When providing the players with stretching exercise, the use of the exercise bands helped to further stretch out the muscles, reaching full range of motion and was very effective as the players were able to use these themselves. Something which I feel that I could improve on is ensuring that the stretches which i am providing to the players suit each individuals needs. This is due to the fact that I help a group stretching session before the game, which was time effective, however did not meet the needs of all the players as many of the stretches focused on hamstring and calf tightness and even though this was an issue for many of the players it was not the case for all. Therefore, I feel that I need to be more inclusive with the stretches which I use.

References:

  • insert pictures of girls using bands
  • (Tight Hamstring: Treatment, Causes, Prevention, and More (healthline.com)
  • Stretches and Exercises for Tight Calf Muscles (verywellfit.com)
  • Rossa, M., Meinar Sari, G., & Novembri Utomo, D. (2021). The Effect of Static Stretching Hamstring on Increasing Hamstring Muscle Extensibility and Pelvic Tilt Angle on Hamstring Tightness. International Journal of Research Publications, 86(1). https://doi.org/10.47119/ijrp1008611020212331
  • Worrell, T. W., Smith, T. L., & Winegardner, J. (1994). Effect of Hamstring Stretching on Hamstring Muscle Performance. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 20(3), 154–159. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1994.20.3.154

 

Date of placement: 12/01/ 2o22

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 16

Roles/ activity undertaken: During this sessions the activities which I undertook included; holding a pre and post warm up and cool down session before and after training, handling and manging any injuries which the players had and conducting a fitness test for one of the players who was ready to return to play after an ankle injury. The pre warm up session included exercises which raised the players heart rate, increase blood flow and stretched the muscles ready for high intensity exercise, such as sprits, squats, lunges with a twist, high knees, kick outs, feed the chickens, open the gates exercise band static and dynamic stretches e.c.t. The post cool down session included exercises which promoted recovery and returned the body to pre- exercise level. One of the players had tightness within the quadriceps after training, therefore, I provided a soft tissue massage on the area to reduce tightness. As one of the players was ready to return to player after an ankle injury, it was my responsivity to conduct and hold a fitness test to ensure the player was fully ready to return in order to prevent further injury from occurring. Within this fitness test I included many exercises and manoeuvres which are required within football such as running, spiriting, throwing, kicking, striking, twisting, tuning, cutting e.c.t.

Evaluation of todays placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I have gained more confidence when delivering the pre and post warm up and cool down sessions as I am more familiar with the team and have now created pre and post sessions which I reuse, therefore, I am confident in the exercises and know that they are effective. Something which I found more challenging within this placement was creating and delivering the fitness test for the player as this is something which was new to me and I had to create on the spot. As I had to create this on the spot it made it more challenging as I had to ensure that the fitness test was sports specific and had little time do research this. Therefore, this showed me that I need to be ready to deal with certain situations on the spot and I will not always have time to pre plan.

References:

  • Mendez-Villanueva, A., & Buchheit, M. (2013). Football-specific fitness testing: adding value or confirming the evidence? Journal of Sports Sciences, 31(13), 1503–1508. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2013.823231
  • Podlog, L., & Eklund, R. C. (2009). High-level athletes’ perceptions of success in returning to sport following injury. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10(5), 535–544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2009.02.003

 

Date of placement: 16/01/2022

Hours acquired: 5

Total hours: 21

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement the Plymouth argyle women’s team has a football match, where it was my responsibility to attend to the players needs regarding management and prevention of injuries and pitch side care. One of the players had previously suffered form a lateral meniscal tear, therefore I applied ridged tape to the knee for added stability and support for during the game. Another player was suffering from tightness and cramping in the right calf, therefore, I applied a soft tissue massage and kinesio tape to the area in order to reduce the tightness and prevent muscle spasms/ cramping. In addition to this, one of the players was empiercing tightness within the hamstrings and quads therefore, I provided a soft tissue massage to reduce this. Before the game, I had to conduct a fitness test on one of the players as they had recently been experiencing and reporting serious knee pain. For this fitness test I included most movement which would occur at the knee such as flexion, extension, medial and lateral rotation. During the fitness test, the player was experiencing pain when spiriting/ running and could not finish most exercises due to pain. Therefore, I decided that the player should not continue with the game and I should conduct some follow up special tests in order to diagnosis and be able to provide treatment. During the game I had to provide pitch side care as a player was injured from a collision with another player during a tackle. On observation, I suspected an ankle injury and therefore, did some follow up tests, including; anterior draw test, posterior draw test, tala tilt test, syndesmosis squeeze test and Thompsons squeeze test. From the findings of these tests, I suspected a lateral ankle sprain and applied ice and elevation to the area to reduce swelling and pain.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement I feel that I am more confident and comfortable dealing with pre and post management and treatment of injuries, however, with providing pitch side care and dealing with injuries which occur on the pitch I am less confident in doing so. This is due to the fact that when going though the tests after the injury occurred, I was not confident in doing so and felt that I was carrying them out wrong, when this was not the case and once my placement supervisor reassured me that the special test were correct I felt a lot more confident and sure of what I was doing. Therefore, from this, I have learnt that I need to learn on trusting my ability and indicative and become more comfortable and confident in dealing with situations individually. As this is a goal which I want to achieve by the end of my placement, a way in which I can ensure I achieve this is by ensuring that I am regularly going over the special tests and the emergency trauma lecture, as well as practicing dealing with pitch side injury individually.

References: 

  • Larkins, L. W., Baker, R. T., & Baker, J. G. (2020). Physical Examination of the Ankle: A Review of the Original Orthopedic Special Test Description and Scientific Validity of Common Tests for Ankle Examination. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation, 2(3), 100072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arrct.2020.100072
  • Alonso, A., Khoury, L., & Adams, R. (1998). Clinical Tests for Ankle Syndesmosis Injury: Reliability and Prediction of Return to Function. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 27(4), 276–284. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1998.27.4.276

 

Date of placement: 19/01/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 23

Roles/ activates undertaken: One activity which I undertook within this session was providing two soft tissue massages, one on the calf’s and one on the hamstrings due to tightness. During these massages the main focus was on reducing this tightness with petrigasrge and myofascial release techniques. After the training session, I also used PNF stretching in order to relax the muscles and reduce tightness. During the training session, one of the players was experiencing a sharp pain down the back of the knee when spiriting. Due to this, I advised that the player missed the rest of the training session and I tapped the area of pain with rigid tape. As I was unsure what the cause of this was, I was required to do some research on what the possible cause could be after conducting an musculoskeletal assessment on the player. Another player was also experiencing knee pain. The reported pain at the bottom of the knee, with the fleeing of giving way and swelling. Again I was initially unsure of what the cause of this could be, however I did have the suspicion that it could be due to bursitis or a tendon injury as this player has experienced reoccurring swelling of the knee before. Therefore to confirm this a musculoskeletal assessment and research must be carried out. The treatment which I initially provided for this injury was to apply ice and tapping to the area in order to reduce the swelling and pain. I also advised the player the rest and elevate the leg and not to continue with the training session.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I was able to use my initiative and compromise as we did not have a massage bed, therefore, I used the bench in order to preform the soft tissue massages. This showed me that I will not always have the necessary equipment available to me, and I will have to find a solution and replacements for this. Due to the two players injuries, I had to conduct two musculoskeletal assessments which I completed there and then as I would not see the players until the next session and therefore, needed this information so I could go back and conduct some research into the presentations of the injury and therefore, decide if the player would be able to continue to play or not. I would then also be able to put together a treatment and recovery plan for the players.

References: 

  • Hong, E., & Kraft, M. C. (2014). Evaluating Anterior Knee Pain. Medical Clinics of North America, 98(4), 697–717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcna.2014.03.001
  • Crossley, K. M., Callaghan, M. J., & Linschoten, R. V. (2016). Patellofemoral pain. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 50(4), 247–250. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2015-h3939rep
  • Dowd, G. S. (1996). Anterior knee pain. The Knee, 3(1–2), 98–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/0968-0160(96)82089-8
  • van Tiggelen, D., Witvrouw, E., Roget, P., Cambier, D., Danneels, L., & Verdonk, R. (2004). Effect of bracing on the prevention of anterior knee pain—a prospective randomized study. Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy, 12(5), 434–439. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-003-0479-z
  • Sisk, D., & Fredericson, M. (2020). Taping, Bracing, and Injection Treatment for Patellofemoral Pain and Patellar Tendinopathy. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 13(4), 537–544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-020-09646-8

 

Date of placement: 27/01/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 25

Roles/ activates undertaken: During this session, the first activity which I undertook was providing two soft tissue massages before training due to calf tightness. One player was experiencing extreme tightness due overuse from a workout previously and another player was experiencing cramping and tightness which occurred after a game which the player had during the week.  After providing these massages, at the start of the session I delivered a pre warm up for the players, consisting of heart raiser exercises to prep the body for strenuous exercise. At the end of training, I also delivered a post cool down session, which included exercises to lower heart rate and static and dynamic stretches to prevent injury and tightness.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I was very efficient in providing the massages quickly but effectively as I only had a short period of time to provide the massages before the training session. However, for the player which was experiencing cramping, I could have used tape to prevent this from occurring again during the training session. I feel that my confidence in growing and my ability to delivering pre and post sessions is progressing, however, I still feel that this is an area which I need to focus on improving further. In addition to this for the player who was experiencing Achilles tightness, I could have provided some strengthening exercises in order to prevent this form occurring again, therefore net time I will do this.

References: 

  • Alfredson, H., Pietilä, T., Öhberg, L., & Lorentzon, R. (1998). Achilles Tendinosis and Calf Muscle Strength. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 26(2), 166–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465980260020301
  • Bryan Dixon, J. (2009). Gastrocnemius vs. soleus strain: how to differentiate and deal with calf muscle injuries. Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine, 2(2), 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-009-9045-8

 

Date of placement: 02/02/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 27

Roles/ activates undertaken: The main role which I undertook during this session was dealing with and providing treatment/ after care to the players as majority participated in several games pre training session. Overall I provided four soft tissue massages, one on the Achilles, one on the hamstrings and two on the quadriceps, mainly due to tightness. During these massages I mainly focused on effleurage and soft tissue release to reduce tightness and breakdown adhesions.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that my confidence in providing soft tissue massage has improved and my ability to do so in this fast paste environment has has also developed. Even though I had instructed and advised the players to continue with regular stretching exercises, I feel that majority of the player will not do so, therefore, it is my responsibility to ensure that they are doing so. Due to this I will ensure to continue to include stretching exercises in the pre and post warm up/ cool down session.

References: 

  • Hopper, D. (2005). Dynamic soft tissue mobilisation increases hamstring flexibility in healthy male subjects * Commentary. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 39(9), 594–598. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsm.2004.011981

 

Date of placement: 09/02/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 29

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays session, one of the players was experiencing tightness and pain within the lower back during the training session. For this I completed an assessment of the player as I was unsecure what the cause of this could be. After I completed the assessment I consulted my placement supervisor, who instructed me to provide the player with a light soft tissue massage to the lower back, in addition to taping the lower back. Therefore, I followed these instructions and recommended that the player did not continue to play. During the training session, another player was experiencing tightness and cramping within the right calf, therefore, I provided a soft tissue massage to reduce the adhesion and applied tape to the Achilles in order to reduce and prevent muscle cramping.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that completion an conducting musculoskeletal assessments is an area which I need to improve on as I was very unsure when conducting this due to the layer experiencing low back pain and tightness. However, I feel that I was able to use my communication effectively and seek advice from my placement supervisors for what the next steps and the action which I should take next. When applying tape the area, I first needed to refer back to my academic studies to ensure that I was applying the tape in the correct area and on the correct structure. However, once I had referred back I felt much more confidence in applying the tape and will continue to use this technique in the future as I wish to improve of this skill.

References: 

  • Patel, D. R., & Kinsella, E. (2017). Evaluation and management of lower back pain in young athletes. Translational Pediatrics, 6(3), 225–235. https://doi.org/10.21037/tp.2017.06.01#
  • Castro-Sánchez, A. M., Lara-Palomo, I. C., Matarán- Peñarrocha, G. A., Fernández-Sánchez, M., Sánchez-Labraca, N., & Arroyo-Morales, M. (2012). Kinesio Taping reduces disability and pain slightly in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy, 58(2), 89–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1836-9553(12)70088-7

 

Date of placement: 13/02/2022

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 33

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays session the players had a football match, therefore, my main responsibility was to provide pitch side care, treat and manage previous injuries and prevent injuries from occurring. Before the game I provided players with a soft tissue massage mainly on the calf’s and hamstrings due to tightness. During the game I had to provide pitch side care twice. Once due to a collision with another player which caused immediate ankle pain and swelling. In order to treat this I provided the player with an ice pack to help reduce swelling and pain. When the player come off the pitch I conducted a full musculoskeletal assessment of the ankle. When completing the assessment the patient felt pain during dorsi and planta flexion, and had a positive result on the anterior draw test. The second injury which I had to provide pitch side care for was a knee injury which was caused by inversion/ forced twisting from a collision. The player was experiencing pain round the back of the knee and struggled to extended the knee but was able to walk.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I was able to effectively work with and manage my time well, ensuring that I see all the players beforehand who needed treatment as this is something which I have struggled with before.  I feel that my confidence in providing pitch side care has improved slightly as when having to running on I did so without hesitation, however I was still a little nervous and therefore, need to work on this. When conducting the assessments of players after they were assisted off the pitch I felt a bit overwhelmed, however, I ensured to follow the assessment plan which we had learnt during lectures and competed each section at a time, not rushing though to ensure that i did not miss anything. In addition to this, one of the players was very persistent that they wanted to continue to play, however as I suspected an ankle injury, I did not let the player go back onto the pitch as this could have caused a more serious injury.

References: 

  • Rao, S., Riskowski, J. L., & Hannan, M. T. (2012). Musculoskeletal conditions of the foot and ankle: Assessments and treatment options. Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology, 26(3), 345–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2012.05.009
  • Rossi, R., Dettoni, F., Bruzzone, M., Cottino, U., D’Elicio, D. G., & Bonasia, D. E. (2011). Clinical examination of the knee: know your tools for diagnosis of knee injuries. Sports Medicine, Arthroscopy, Rehabilitation, Therapy & Technology, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1758-2555-3-25

Date of placement: 16/02/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 35

Roles/ activates undertaken: Today the team had a training session, therefore my main responsibilities included, reassessing injuries which occurred at the weakened (from the pervious game), providing treatments and pitch side care. Before the training session, I performed two soft tissue massages, one of the hamstrings and one of the quadriceps; both due to tightness. During these soft tissue massages, there was no massage bed available, therefore I used the bench in the changing room. For both the massages I focused mainly effleurage and myofascial release in order to help reduce tightness and pain as I only had a short period of time to complete the massages. During the training session one of the players was experiencing symptoms of a headache, dizziness and sickness which come to light that they had been experiencing since taking a hard hit to the head earlier that day during a football game. Therefore, I advised the player to not continue training and made my supervisor aware of the situation. I then helped my supervisor preform a SCAT test as she suspected a possible minor concussion. The results showed signs of a minor concussion, therefore the player was sent home and advised to rest, not participate in sporting actives or anything strenuous for 7-10 days and if the symptoms progressively become worse (e.g. vomiting) to go straight to hospital.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I have learnt and acquired a new skill as helping my supervisor to perform the SCAT test is something which  have not done before and was very new to me. I feel that this is a very helpful skill to have as concussions, especially within competitive sport can be common, and therefore, within the future I will most likely have to conduct A SCAT test again. In addition to this, I feel that I made the correct decision, in advising the player to stop training and make my supervisor aware of the situation straight away.

References: 

  • Begasse De Dhaem, O., Barr, W. B., Balcer, L. J., Galetta, S. L., & Minen, M. T. (2017). Post-traumatic headache: the use of the sport concussion assessment tool (SCAT-3) as a predictor of post-concussion recovery. The Journal of Headache and Pain, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-017-0767-5

 

Date of placement: 23/02/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 37

Roles/ activates undertaken: Today the team had a training session, therefore my main responsibilities included, providing treatment, pitch side care, dealing with any issue or concerns which the players had and injury prevention. During the session one of the players started experiencing pain on the medial side of the knee which occurred when the player was participating in a dribbling exercise.  I conducted a musculoskeletal assessment in order to try and find the route if the issue and give a possible diagnosis so I could therefore provide treatment. On assessment the player complained of experiencing a feeling of giving way and a constant dull ache when spiriting and dribbling the ball. After conducting the assessment I was a little unsure of what the underlying issue or cause could be, therefore I relayed this information to my supervisor and we come to the conclusion that it may be a ligament issue and I should conduct some exercises for the player to do as a treatment method. At the end of the training session, I provided two soft tissue massages; one on the quadriceps and one on the hamstrings, both due to tightness.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that my ability to conduct musculoskeletal assessments has slightly improved. However, an area which I need to improve on is conducting the special tests confidently and being comfortable in using my skills and knowledge to come up with a possible diagnosis individually. This skill is essential within the role of a sports therapist and is therefore, something which I would like to focus on improving though out the rest of my placement. Coming away from todays session, I will need to ensure that I research specific treatment exercises for the players injury, in order to put together an exercise/ treatment plan which will aid the patients recovery.

References: 

  • Knee Injuries in Athletes. (1983). The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 11(2), 199–202. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913847.1983.11708467

  • Evaluation of patients presenting with knee pain: part II. Differential diagnosis.  WALTER L. CALMBACH, M.D., University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas; MARK HUTCHENS, M.D., University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. Am Fam Physician. 2003 Sep 1;68(5):917-922.

  • How to identify and treat inner knee pain – Inner knee pain: Treatment, exercises, and causes (medicalnewstoday.com)

 

Date of placement: 27/02/2022

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 41

Roles/ activates undertaken: Todays session was a season game, therefore my main responsibilities included, providing treatment, preventing injury, assessing any pain or injuries which the players had and providing pitch side care. In preparation for the game, I provided one soft tissue massage as one of the players was experiencing tightness in the quadriceps. There was no massage bed available so I used the bench in the changing rooms and performed effleurage and myofascial release to quickly and effectively decrease this tightness. I also applied ridged tape to the ankle joint of one of the players to add support to the joint, due to a pervious ankle sprain which has caused ankle instability. During the game, I was required to provide pitch side care to one of the players due to a fall. The player had a slight cut so I cleaned the area and placed a plaster on top of the cut, the player was then able to continue playing. After the game one of the players was experiencing tightness within the hamstrings, therefore I performed a soft tissue massage and PNF stretching, aiming to reduce this.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that my soft tissue massage skills have improved greatly as even though most of the time I only have a short period of time to complete the massage, I use techniques which are most beneficial to the player and their needs which saves time and ensures the massage will still be as effective for the player. During this session I also used PNF stretching in conjunction with the soft tissue massage in order to further reduce tightness. Even though during todays session I used PNF stretching as well as a soft tissue massage, I could apply PNF stretching alone in order to save time but still effectively reduce tightness and promote relaxation of muscles.

References: 

  • Sharman, M. J., Cresswell, A. G., & Riek, S. (2006). Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Stretching. Sports Medicine, 36(11), 929–939. https://doi.org/10.2165/00007256-200636110-00002
  • The Effects of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation and Static Stretching Exercises. (2019). Case Medical Research. https://doi.org/10.31525/ct1-nct04026646

 

Date of placement: 02/03/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 43

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays training session one of the players was experiencing anterior knee pain  and swelling which occurred after a collision with another player pervious to the training session. On assessment the player complained of the feeling of the knee giving way and pain when coming up from a squat position. After a full assessment I had suspicion that this may be a tendon injury. Therefore, I advised the player to not continue training and will research specific exercises and put together a treatment plan. Another player also sustained an injury during the training session. This player fell with their foot in inversion and experienced pain, slight swelling and bruising. On assessment, the player tested positive for a high ankle sprain when the syndesmosis squeeze test was conducted. Therefore, I applied ice and cohesive bandage around the area, took the player off the pitch and advised them to rest, keep the joint elevated and apply ice regularly. For recovery of this patient I will conduct a ankle stability and stretching exercises in order to strengthen the joint and prevent chronic ankle instability.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, feel that my confidence in completing musculoskeletal assessments individually has improved as when conducting these two assessments I ensured to follow an assessment plan and was then able to confidently conduct the special tests and figure out what the possible diagnosis could be based on this. I feel that applying cohesive banged and ice to the effected ankle joint was the correct decision to make in order to reduce the swelling and pain. For the recovery of both players I will need to research strengthening and stability exercises for the knee and ankle joint in order to improve strength and prevent chronic stability occurring within these joints.

References: 

 

Date of placement: 06/03/2022

Hours acquired: 5

Total hours: 48

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement the Women’s argyle team had a season game, where my main responsibilities were; to provide pitch side care, treat and prevent injuries and provide a cool down session. Before the game started I undertook a range of activities. One of these included applying ridged tape to the ankle joint for added support and stability due to a previous ankle sprain. I also applied kineso tape to the hamstrings of one of the player as they were experiencing slight muscle cramps due to a pervious muscle strain. I provided a soft tissue massage on the right calf due to Achilles tightness, mainly focusing on effleurage and trigger point release to break down adhesions. After the game, one of the players was experiencing a shooting pain in the upper region of the quadriceps, just below the hip which occurred toward the end of the game when kicking the ball. After conducting the assessment I was very unsure what the cause of this could be, therefore I consulted my placement supervisor who advised me to apply tape the to area and research this further. I also held the cool down session which consisted of exercises, dynamic and static stretches in order reduce heart rate and prevent injury.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that my confidence in applying different types of sports tape has improved dramatically. From remembering the small things such as rounding off the corners to applying my academic studies and skills which I have learnt over the course of this placement, I have been able to adapt and develop my own style and work out the way which works best for me and other individuals within the team. However, I feel that I need to work on different injuries which can be present and occur within football and different areas of the body as I feel that this is a weak point for me.

References: 

  • Anderson, K., Strickland, S. M., & Warren, R. (2001). Hip and Groin Injuries in Athletes. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 29(4), 521–533. https://doi.org/10.1177/03635465010290042501
  • Feeley, B. T., Powell, J. W., Muller, M. S., Barnes, R. P., Warren, R. F., & Kelly, B. T. (2008). Hip Injuries and Labral Tears in the National Football League. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(11), 2187–2195. https://doi.org/10.1177/0363546508319898

 

Date of placement: 09/03/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 50

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement, the team had a training session where my main roles included, treating and preventing injuries, assessing players and providing pitch side care. During the session one of the players was experiencing knee pain. From the assessment it was found that patients pain was a dull ache which occurred after long period of sitting and the onset of pain occurred during spiriting. The area was slightly swollen and the player relayed that they had experienced severe swelling in the past after training. Me and my supervisor come to the conclusion that the player may have bursitis, therefore, I assigned the player with exercises to do. Another player was experiencing a lot of tightness within the right calf, to the point of pain and stiffness in the morning which eases throughout the day. For this I performed a soft tissue massage and PNF stretching and advised the player to continue and ensure that they perform the stretches and exercises which I had supplied them with.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I was confidently able to complete a full assessment individually and give a possible diagnosis, showing that I have made progress over the course of this placement. As I had previously given the player exercises to do in order to improve their muscle tightness, I need to ensure that they are regularly performing these as the player said that they stopped and therefore, the tightness increased.

References: 

 

Date of placement: 16/03/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 52

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement, the team had a training session where my main roles included, treating and preventing injuries, assessing players and providing pitch side care. Before the session I provided a soft tissue massage on the hamstrings due to tightness. This player often experiences tightness within the hamstrings, therefore I have provided them with ways to self massage at home using a tennis ball and giving them some strengthening exercises, along with some stretches to do daily in order to help prevent this. After the training session one of the players was experiencing swelling of the knee from a small collision which occurred toward the end of the session. therefore, I applied some ice to reduce this and as the player was not experiencing any pain or other symptoms, I expected the swelling to go down within the next few hours.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that developed the skill and ability to advise the players on exercises and stretches which they can do in their own time in order to strengthen muscles, improve stability and reduce tightness. However, creating and applying rehabilitation and prehabilition plans to training is an area which I would like to learn more about and will therefore, ask my supervisor if I could participate more in this area.

References: 

  • Mhatre, B. S., Singh, Y. L., Tembhekar, J. Y., & Mehta, A. (2013). Which is the better method to improve “perceived hamstrings tightness” – Exercises targeting neural tissue mobility or exercises targeting hamstrings muscle extensibility? International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 16(3), 153–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2013.06.002
  • Tight Hamstring: Treatment, Causes, Prevention, and More (healthline.com)

 

Date of placement: 23/03/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 54

Roles/ activates undertaken: During the first half of todays placement the team had a strength and condition session. This session consisted of different stations with a variety of strengthening exercises (see pictures section) which the players would go round and complete each exercises 3 times. After this strength and condition session, we did some rehabilitation with the players. The player which I was working with was experiencing tightness within the calf, therefore, I had to come up with exercises to reduce this and stretch out the area. For this I used an exercise band and weighted stretches. For the second half of the training session the players participated in fitness training which before hand I applied rigid tape to one of the players knee joint for added stability and support. At the end of the session I performed a soft tissue massage on the hamstrings due to tightness, where I performed effleurage, tapotement and trigger point release.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I have experienced how strength and conditioning training, as well as fitness training is used with football in order to enhance a players performance. I have also learnt and gathered new exercises which can be used within strength and conditioning training, which I will be able to use in the future.

References: 

  • EBBEN, W. P., & BLACKARD, D. O. (2001). Strength and Conditioning Practices of National Football League Strength and Conditioning Coaches. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 15(1), 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1519/00124278-200102000-00009
  • Stodden, D. F., & Galitski, H. M. (2010). Longitudinal Effects of a Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Program in American Football. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 24(9), 2300–2308. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3181dc4255

 

Date of placement: 24/03/2022

Hours acquired: 3

Total hours: 57

Roles/ activates undertaken: This session consisted of providing soft tissue massages within clinic at university. I provided 3 massages; one on the calf’s, hamstrings and quadriceps, one on the hamstrings and and quadriceps and the final one of the calf’s and hamstrings. All three massages were in order to reduce tightness and improve range of motion which I tested with either straight leg raise or knee to wall test. The main three treatments which I used throughout the massages included, effleurage to warm up the tissues and increase blood flow, myofascial release to improve range of motion and decrease adhesions and trigger point release to break down adhesions.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays session, I feel that placement as really helped me develop my soft tissue massage skills as I was much more confident in providing a range of massages individually. I was also able to manage my time well as each induvial requested a soft tissue massage on different areas of the body, therefore, I was able to split my time up to ensure I focused on each part evenly.

 

Date of placement: 30/03/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 59

Roles/ activates undertaken: During placement, the first half consisted of a strength and conditioning training. This consisted of a range of exercises in order to enhance the players performance. Each player spent time at each station 3 times. During the second half of the training session the players had a football game, where I provided pitch side care. Before the game started I applied rigid take to both the ankle and knee joint for added stability and support due to previous injuries.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that my taping skills have improved greatly, however over the course of this placement I have practiced applying tape a lot to the lower extremity and not much on the upper extremity, therefore, this is a goal which I will set for my next placement and within the future.

References: 

  • Turner, A. N., & Stewart, P. F. (2014). Strength and Conditioning for Soccer Players. Strength & Conditioning Journal, 36(4), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1519/ssc.0000000000000054

Date of placement: 31/03/2022

Hours acquired: 3

Total hours: 62

Roles/ activates undertaken: During this session I provided soft tissue massage to a variety of patients. I provided three soft tissue massages; one on the quadriceps, one on the hamstrings and calf’s and one on the lower and upper back, all due to localised tightness within the area. The main techniques which I used during these massages are effleurage to warm up the surrounding area and increase blood flow, myofascial release to improve range of motion and decrease adhesions and trigger point release to break down adhesions.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I was able to provide effective treatments and overall improve the patients tightness and range of motion. When providing the lower and upper back treatment I change my position; standing at the head of the patient so I could access the full upper body. I also asked the patients to place their arm behind their back so I could access the scapular region as the patient had many adhesions within this area. This made the treatment more effective for the patient, as well as easier for me.

References: 

  • Kalichman, L., & ben David, C. (2017). Effect of self-myofascial release on myofascial pain, muscle flexibility, and strength: A narrative review. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 21(2), 446–451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2016.11.006

 

Date of placement: 04/04/2022

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 66

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement the Argyle women’s football team has a season game, therefore, it was my responsibility to provide treatment, prevent and manage injuries and provide pitch side care. Prior to the game I provided a soft tissue massage on the calf and a soft tissue massage on the hamstring, both due to tightness. As we was very limited for time I mainly focused on effleurage and myofascial release to ensure I warmed up the tissue and prepared the muscles for a more vigorous massage but also decreased tightness and broke down adhesions. I also applied rigid tape to three of the players knee joint for added stability and support. Two of the tapings were focused on the MCL of the knee joint due to pervious injury and the other was focused on the patella. During the game, I had to provide pitch side care twice, once due to a player feeling a pop of the knee and pain, I took the player off the pitch straight away and conducted a musculoskeletal assessment. The second time was due to a collision to the knee with another player. For this the player was able to continue playing.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I have greatly improved my confidence in providing pitch side care as when running on during todays placement, I did not hesitate and felt comfortable when providing first aid, as well as when conducting the musculoskeletal assessments. This shows that placement has really helped me to improve my confidence. I feel that I have also improved on my taping skills, however, I have had a lot of practice applying tape to the lower extremity but hardly any applying tape to the upper extremity therefore, this is something which I would like to focus on in the future.

References: 

  • Williams, S., Whatman, C., Hume, P. A., & Sheerin, K. (2012). Kinesio Taping in Treatment and Prevention of Sports Injuries. Sports Medicine, 42(2), 153–164. https://doi.org/10.2165/11594960-000000000-0000

 

Date of placement: 06/04/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 68

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement the players had a training session. During the first half of the training session I was doing proprioception training with the goal keeper. For this the goal keeper was standing on a BAPA board and was required to catch a ball without loosing balance and remain standing on the board. The player were also participating in strength and resistance training. This consisted of the players spiriting between cones with the added resistance of a parachute in order to improve their speed and endurance. During this training session I had to provide pitch side care as one of the players injured their knee when running round the cone. The player reported the feeling of giving was and a loud popping noise which occurred when turning. After assessing the injury and completing an assessment, I suspected a possible ACL injury.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I have been able to apply my academic studies to my placement as when doing the proprioception training with the goal keeper I was able to adapt and apply exercises which I have learnt over the course of my lectures. By adding the parachute to the players it added resistance which would help to improve the players speed and overall improve performance. This is a good exercise to do for a range of sports in order to improve speed and enhance performance and therefore, an exercise which I can use in the future.

References: 

  • Smith, R. A., Martin, G. J., Szivak, T. K., Comstock, B. A., Dunn-Lewis, C., Hooper, D. R., Flanagan, S. D., Looney, D. P., Volek, J. S., Maresh, C. M., & Kraemer, W. J. (2014). The Effects of Resistance Training Prioritization in NCAA Division I Football Summer Training. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 28(1), 14–22. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0b013e3182977e56

 

Date of placement: 13/04/2022

Hours acquired: 2

Total hours: 70

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement I was working with the Ivey Bridge rugby team providing treatments to the players. I provided two soft tissue massages, one on the lower and upper back and one of the right and left calf due to tightness. I focused on effleurage, trigger point release and myofascial release in order to warm up and prepare the area for more vigorous massage and to break down adhesions. During this session I was also able to see a skin graft of a pervious ACL injury which was very interesting to see first hand and learn about the effects which an injury like this could have on the player. As well as this, during the session I was also able to see how the team operates and experience working with a sports team which I had no pervious experience working with.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that I have gained valuable experience, working with a different and new sports team which enabled me to see what it would be like to work within a different environment. This experience was also very helpful as I was able to see how other people operate and would use certain techniques such as taping and soft tissue massage  which will help me shape the way in which I apply and use certain techniques.

References:

  • Zaffagnini, S. (2015). Return to sport after ACL reconstruction: how, when and why? A narrative review of current evidence. Joints. https://doi.org/10.11138/jts/2015.3.1.025

Date of placement: 15/04/2022

Hours acquired: 6

Total hours: 76

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement, the Argyle women’s football team had a season game, where it was my responsibility to prevent and treat injuries, provide pitch side care and accommodate to the players. Before the game I provided four soft tissue massages; two on the Achilles, two on the hamstrings and one on the quadriceps all due to tightness. I also applied kinesio and rigid tape to the knee and foot in order to add stability and reduce pain. Before the game I also conducted a warm up session for in order to increase heart rate, increase blood flow, activate the muscles and prevent injury from occurring. After the session I provided a cool down session which included slower exercises to decrease heart rate, dynamic and static stretches in order to promote relaxation of muscles, prevent tightness and injury.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I am now comfortable and confident in providing a range of treatments to the team, including soft tissue massage, taping and injury prevention. I feel that my confidence has greatly improve when conducting and holding a pre and post warm up and cool down session. I now do so assertively and individually which I feel will benefit me within the future as this is a key skill. I also believe that I have learnt new exercises such as band exercises which benefit the players and I can use in my own pre and post sessions.

References:

  • Popp, J. K., Bellar, D. M., Hoover, D. L., Craig, B. W., Leitzelar, B. N., Wanless, E. A., & Judge, L. W. (2017). Pre- and Post-Activity Stretching Practices of Collegiate Athletic Trainers in the United States. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 31(9), 2347–2354. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000000890

 

Date of placement: 27/04/2022

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 81

Roles/ activates undertaken: During todays placement, the Argyle women’s football team had a season game, where it was my responsibility to provide pitch side care, treat and manage injures and prevent injuries from occurring. Before the game, I provided two soft tissue massages in order to reduce tightness and improve range of motion. Both of these soft tissue massages were on the hamstrings, therefore, I applied effleurage and myofascial release to warm up the tissues, activate the muscles and break down adhesions. I also applied rigid tape to the MCL of the knee joint in order to add stability and reduce pain during the game. During the game I had to provide pitch side care as the goal keeper had a collision with another player which caused a cut on the leg. For this I cleaned the area and put a bandage on it to stop the bleeding; the player was then able to continue with the game. After the game, certain player were experiencing some tightness in the lower extremities, therefore, I held a cool down session to promote muscle relaxation and prevent injury, as well as conducting PNF stretching.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of todays placement, I feel that my confidence in providing pitch side care and in general has massively improved over the course of this placement. During this session I was able to apply treatment, prevent injures, lead a cool down session and provide pitch side care all individually which were all goals that I wanted to achieve by the end of this placement. I feel that I have learnt many skills and improved my knowledge greatly throughout and will continue to do so in future placements and my academic studies.

 

Date of placement: 24/08/2022

Hours acquired: 2 hours 30mins

Total hours: 83hours 30mins

Roles/ activates undertaken: During today’s placement the Argyle women’s football team had a training session, where it was my responsibility to see to any injuries which the plyers had, provide treatment and pitch side care during training. One of the players was experiencing tightness within the hamstring therefore, I performed a deep soft tissue massage and applied kinesio tape to the painful area to relive pain. For this I also carried out stretching techniques with the player before and after training to prevent tightness. A player with a previous MCL injury was experiencing slight pain during training, therefore, I used rigid tape to tape the MCL to provide support and stability to the joint and will provide the player with strengthening exercises.

Evaluation of placement: On evaluation of today’s placement an issue which occurred was that the tape which I applied to the hamstring and MCL proceeded to peel off during the training session. To prevent this from occurring within the future I should ensure that I have activated the adhesive on the tape so that it remains stuck to the area for the entire session.

References:

 

Date of placement: 25/08/2022

Hours acquired: 2 hours 30mins

Total hours: 86 hours

Roles/ activates undertaken: During today’s placement I was working with Ivy Bridge Rugby club. During this session I took the role of observing the club’s sports therapist working with the team, participating some hands-on practice and running through emergency first aid and procedures of providing pitch side care. One of the players was experiencing tightness in their lower back, therefore I performed a deep soft tissue massage and assisted with back mobilizations. I also assisted in taping players, including the knee for patella tendonitis and meniscus pain. During the training session a player rolled their ankle, which was very swollen and tender, therefore an observation was carried out and was suspected of a grade 3 ankle sprain or fracture.

Evaluation of placement: On reflection of today’s placement, I felt that it was good to get experience within a different sport which I had not worked in before and will be continuing with this placement.  During today’s placement I found that I need to refresh my anatomy knowledge, including muscles of the back and the soft tissue within the ankle joint as my knowledge within these areas was weak. I also need to ensure that I am regularly refreshing my emergency first aid knowledge as this is something which will be very important within this placement and within the future.

Date of placement: 27/08/2022

Hours acquired: 4

Total hours: 90

Roles and activities undertook: During today’s session I was working with ivy bridge mens rugby team, providing pre, post and pitch side care. Before the game I treated two players with a deep soft tissue massage due to tightness in the lower back. Pregame also consisted of a lot of taping, including taping of the mcl, acl and shoulder (rotator cuff). During the game 3 players had cramp which may have been due to the hot day and dehydration. For this we provided quick stretching when able to do so. Post treatment mainly consisted of soft tissue massage with deep heat and PNF stretching. 

Evaluation of Placement: On reflection of today’s placement as it was my first-time providing pitch side care for a rugby team, I felt that I need to build my confidence up when running into assist the players during live play. This was also different for me as anytime the game stopped, we were able to run on to assist the players and check in which is very different to my other placement. I felt that I was able to pick up my role quickly and aim to be more confident during the next game. 

 

Date of placement: 30/08/2022

Hours acquired: 2 hours 30mins

Total hours: 92 hours 30 mins

Roles and activities undertook: During today’s session, the ivy bridge woman’s rugby team had a training session. One of the players was in the late stages of recovering from an ankle sprain and was experiencing some achiness when running.  For this ultrasound and taping was performed and the player was instructed to rest. Another player had a previous rotator cuff injury, where taping was performed to help hold the joint in place. One of the players had a calf strain (grade 1/2) and was experiencing tightness and pain. For this the player was instructed to rest and taping was performed. During the training session we took one of the players who was in the last stages of an acl recovery to do some rehab. This mainly consisted of changing of direction exercises. During this session it was noticed that the player had altered their running stance, which could cause re injury therefore, the main part of this session was to correct this using hurdles and different exercises. 

 Evaluation of Placement: On reflection of today’s placement, I felt that I was able to learn a lot about the recovery process which takes place after an acl injury. With the help from my placement supervisor, I was able to put together a range of strengthening exercises with and without equipment. It was very useful and interesting to see how the range of exercises helped improve the players body position when running and this changed as the player started to fatigue. This is an area which will still need to be worked on and improved over the next few months before the player has any game time as this could cause re-injury. 

References: 

 

Date of placement: 31/08/2022

Hours acquired: 2 hours 30mins

Total hours: 95

Roles and activities undertook: During today’s session I was working with the under 23s Plymouth argyle women’s football team. One player was experiencing tightness within the right quadricep when spiriting, no pain was reported during other movements such as walking or jumping. During assessment, on palpation slight muscle bulk and tightness was present within the right hamstring compared to the left. I suspected overuse of the right quadriceps. For this I advised the player to rest for 1-2 days, slowly introducing some light exercises and stretching. The following Sunday, I provided the player with a soft tissue massage on the right quadricep and carried out some stretching techniques with the player, including PNF stretching.  Another player was experiencing some knee pain. I carried out a fully assessment on this player. During the assessment I found that the player was experiencing pain during flexion, passive, active and resisted around the patella. This occurred from the player landing on the side of their foot when landing from a jump. After the assessment I was unsure of the special tests which I should carry out. Therefore, this is something which I need to research and expand my knowledge on. I will do this by talking to my supervisor and carrying out further reading.

 Evaluation of Placement: On reflection of today’s placement, I was able to run through the musculoskeletal assessment confidently with the help of my placement supervisor. This is an area which I need to continue to practice and improve on to ensure I am able to do this individually and for any injury which the players may present with. As I was unsure on which special tests to preform, I will need to ensure that I know these for differential diagnosis. As I lack confidence and knowledge within this area, I will create a sheet with all special tests on for different musculoskeletal structures. therefore, I will be able to have this with me to refer back to and also increase my knowledge.

 

Date of placement: 01/09/2022

Hours acquired: 2 hours 30mins

Total hours: 97 hours 30 mins

Roles and activities undertook & evaluation of today’s placement: Today Ivy Bridge rugby club had a training session; therefore, my role was to oversee the players, perform taping, soft tissue massage and conduct musculoskeletal assessments. During the training session one of the players was experiencing pain within the hamstrings. During the musculoskeletal assessment I wasn’t very confident in conducting this individually. I began conducting the subjective assessment however, I did become stuck and needed help at certain points, including, knowing which structures to palpate and where to go after the subjective assessment had been completed. Due to this, I need to work on my anatomy and confidence as I feel that these are two weaknesses which I need to improve in order to improve on my musculoskeletal assessment.

Another player was experiencing pain and tightness within the lower back. For this I watched my placement supervisor conduct the musculoskeletal assessment in order to learn from this and compare the which I completed to the assessment which my supervisor did. This really helped me to see where I went wrong and what I could have done differently. The outcome of this assessment was that the player was presenting with posterior pelvic tilt.

During this session I also applied tape to the ankle and shoulder structure for added stability due to previous injury.

References:

  • Day, J. W., Smidt, G. L., & Lehmann, T. (1984, April 1). Effect of Pelvic Tilt on Standing Posture. Physical Therapy, 64(4), 510–516. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/64.4.510

 

Date of placement: 03/09/2022

Hours acquired: 3 hours

Total hours: 100 hours 30 mins

Roles and activates undertook: During this session Ivy Bridge men’s rugby club had a game in which I provided pre and post treatment and pitch side care. Pre-treatment consisted of taping, massage and assessments of any injuries of concerns which the players may have had. During this time, I strapped two ankle joints due to a previous ATFL sprain for added stability. I was unsure how to strap the shoulder as I had not applied tape to the shoulder before, therefore I observed my supervisor. I also applied a thumb splint and a deep soft tissue massage for the lower back due to tightness. During the game one player had a slight collision to the ankle. For this the player was tapped quickly on the pitch (over boot) and the player was able to continue. Another player took a knock to the head from a collision with a knee during a tackle. The player was complaining of dizziness, feeling sick and nausea and was experiencing shaking of the hands. The player was instructed to come off due to a suspicion of a concussion. After some time out of play, the player stopped experiencing symptoms, and was therefore let back on to play. As the player continued to play, we ensured to continue to look for further symptoms such as confusion and ensure that the player was able to continue.

Evaluation of today’s placement: On reflection of today’s placement, I feel that my ability to tape the ankle joint is improving, however, I need to ensure that when applying the tape that I am not coming too far up the structure as this can damage the facia in the foot. I also aim to practice taping other structures of the body such as the shoulder as this is a skill which is important to have.