25/08/2020- Plymouth Albion Training session-3hrs
Covid testing and Treatment room:
The first hour of the session was split into performing the usual covid checks and the treatment room providing treatments to the players. During this part of the session, I massaged the calves of a player and performed stretching techniques with them to continue with their rehabilitation program. This player is very nearly ready to return to play after a calf tear and build-up of scar tissue. Not only just from the beginning of treatment but in each session this player is showing increased flexibility, decreased tightness, reduced pain, and increased range of motion. As a result of this fast recovery, the player is due to return to training tonight running at a maximum of 50-60% of maximal effort/speed.
The training session:
During this part of the session, we were pitchside for the training session where the players were participating in a sprinting session with the sprint coach. One of the players came to the group of therapists with a tight sensation in his hamstrings. After guidance from the head therapist I began to treat the player using the following techniques:
- MET Stretching
- Soft tissue massage
- Soft tissue release
Once having this treatment the player had decreased pain and decreased tightness so was assessed by the head therapist and allowed to rejoin the training session. A little while later the same player was limping around and then felt an increase in pain so went to the floor. Upon approaching the player, he was in a lot of pain, and after being reassessed by the head therapist he had torn his hamstring. The player stated that they felt the tightness come back before they performed the sprint however decided to carry on which ended with hem getting injured. The immediate response was to apply ice which occurred and the player sat out for the remainder of the session. Over the coming weeks, this player will be undergoing rehabilitation to aid recovery and return to play.
Things that went well during this session include the treatment I initially provided to the player. Although the player got reinjured I feel as though their injury could have been more severe if I hadn’t performed the interventions I did. I also took the injured player as an opportunity to reiterate the importance of a warm-up for the players and that I feel as though therapists for the team should take responsibility for a sufficient warm-up for the team for injury prevention.
Things that went bad during the session I felt was my confidence during the injury part of the training session. I knew what I was doing but for security, I asked for help to ensure I didn’t do things wrong. I feel that to overcome this I need to expose myself to situations more frequently and for that reason, I hope to be included as part of the rehabilitation process with this player. This will allow me to increase confidence through first-hand experiences.