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PHYSIO'S
MAGIC BAG REPLACING MAGIC SPONGE
by Lawrie Harries
 The
sight of a trainer/physio rushing on to the pitch to treat an injured
player has been a part of football for as long as we can remember.
Years ago a bucket of icy water and a "magic" sponge seemed to be
all that was needed to get a player galloping around the field again.
Nowadays, things have become a little more sophisticated with many
physios seemingly taking everything on to the pitch except a sponge
and bucket.
A
quick look into the bag of Chris Barton, currently club physio at
Ryman Premier club Harrow Borough, reveals that, among other things,
the bag contained assorted bandages and tapes, safety pins, mirror,
torch, smelling salts, water spray, heat spray, vapour rub, massage
lotion, tweezers, gloves, cotton buds, cotton wool, towel, cold
pack, drink bottles and pen and paper.
The
mirror, incidentally, is not to allow fashion conscious players
to check hairstyles before returning to the fray after a knock,
but to assist players wearing contact lenses to replace them when
they become detached! There is now widespread acceptance that what
is done over 90 minutes on the pitch is but the culmination of a
regime which includes diet, psychology, fitness training etc.
Part-time
players do not have the time to follow the fitness programme employed
at full-time clubs but a lot that has been introduced into full-time
professional life has been extended into the non-League game. The
role of the club physiotherapist can be vital in all this. At any
level of professional football, a physio who can quickly diagnose
and treat an injury could be the difference between winning and
losing games and championships.
Over
the years, Harrow Borough has been fortunate with the quality of
their club physios. Andy McDade is a legend in his own treatment
room, for example! Present physio, Chris Barton, lecturers at Hendon
College on remedial sports massage, advance sports clinical therapy,
and health and fitness. He also conducts courses for the Football
Association.
He
had a slightly unconventional entry into physiotherapy and football,
beginning his career as a qualified fitness instructor and international
swimming coach working in the USA as well as this country. Chris
attended a course for masseurs at a school in the Midlands. While
there, he and others undertaking the course were invited by Central
Television to help prepare the contestants and the Gladiators in
the popular TV programme of that name, with massage.
Chris'
direct interest in football was whetted by an invitation from Coventry
City to work with their first team squad, providing sports massage.
From there he decided to go on a two-year FA Diploma course for
physios at Lilleshall. Later, Chris was taken on as sports masseur
at QPR, where Brian Morris was the physio, under the management
of Ray Wilkins. Subsequently, Ray Wilkins joined Fulham and Chris
resumed his association with him as a masseur.
Chris
decided to widen his experience and whilst at Kingsbury Town he
met Boro's Capital League team manager George Goode, and was eventually
appointed to a vacancy that had arisen at Boro. By definition, full-time
professionals are fitter than part-time players but even at part-time
level players can do a lot to reduce the risk of injury by adequate
preparation through warming up exercises and through an innovation
Chris Barton brought to Boro, cooling down muscles and stretching
exercises after a game.
He
believes that this has helped reduce the number of muscle injuries
suffered by the squad. Like most walks of life, physiotherapy has
seen great advances in technological aids. For example, M.R..I.
scanning has been a major development in diagnosing cartilage or
ligament problems; key-hole surgery has transformed the time players
need to recover from surgery. However, before a player reaches the
operating table some fundamental observation has to be undertaken
by the physiotherapist first.
Physios
are taught to ask basic questions : what did they observe about
how the injury occurred, what can the injured player tell the physio
about the symptoms; how does the player move; take note his posture
and then go on to active and passive movements. Inside the profession
the whole procedure is known as SALTAPS In a typical week three
or four players will be on the physio's treatment table.
Some
with major problems others who are feeling "niggles" and who probably
need reassurance. Psychology is an important part of a physio's
armoury as well as a manager's. If players think something works
for them - even faith healing - what is wrong with trying it? Like
patient and doctor, physio and players must have trust and confidence
in each other. Players need the assurance that their problem can
be sorted out. There is nothing more debilitating for any sportsman
than an injury which is not diagnosed properly bringing a long term
period on the touchline.
There
is a widely held belief that physios must have a masochistic streak.
(Watching defender Darren Coleman stick his foot in a bucket of
ice on a freezing Winter morning the writer can quite believe it
- this incident also demonstrates that new technology has not yet
taken over completely!). This probably has something to do with
the old adage that if treatment hurts it must be doing you good
- the excuse of physios through generations!
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