PURPOSE

The Trainer Co-ordinators arranged for a guest speaker to talk on issues of "Health and Wellbeing within a football context".  As a result a local Physiotherapist, Tim McCurdy from Rowville Health, was invited to talk on this topic from a Physiotherapist perspective.  A total of twenty five people participated and attended this session.

CORE STRENGTH

Tim spoke of the need to strengthen back and abdominal areas in a bid to prevent many other injuries within a football context.  He spoke of the need to have the correct equipment to help which included:

·         Gym equipment

·         Ice-Packs

·         Tables for massaging and treatment

·         Bikes

The discussion and presentation was divided into the following sections or categories:

·         Injury management

·         Injury Prevention

·         Eating habits

·         Alcohol

INJURY MANAGEMENT

Tim emphasised the use of ice to treat an injury - not the use of heat.  Ice should be used for 20 mins every 2 hours throughout the time of rehabilitation - and not just for a couple of days.

Tim introduced the RICER concept which is an acronym for:

·         R - Rest

·         I - ice

·         C- Compression

·         E - Elevation

·         R - Referral

INJURY PREVENTION

In order to prevent injury as much as possible, the following aspects were considered critical:

·         Conditioning (and preparation) of players

·         Ensure players are 100% (not 80%) on game day

·         Stretching before exercise (minimum stretch time is 15 seconds per exercise 6 to 7 times per day)

·         Cool Down (after every exercise)                                                   

·         Ice

EATING HABITS

3 important ingredients

·         Carbohydrates - eg: pasta, rice, etc.

·         Fluids - 2 to 3 litres of water per day

·         Iron - red meat, vegies, etc.

Pre match

·         Cereals

·         Pasta

·         Rice

·         Vegies

·         Fluids - water

Recovery

·         Sugars

·         Lollies - jelly beans, snakes

·         Fluids - water

ALCOHOL

Effects on performance

·         Slows reflexes

·         Increases body heat loss

·         Decreases endurance

Effects on injuries

·         Dehydration

·         Increased chance of tearing

"Johnola" syndrome

·         Fevola/Johnson - not considering the team

CONCLUSIONS

1.      Acute injury management

2.      Prevention

3.      Diet

4.      Alcohol

5.      Onus on self

Caffeine - massive dehydration

Protein not essential for performance (but balanced diet needed overall)

Frank Compasso

Lisa Mack