Welcome to Trainer Talk!!
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Topic for Discussion
Ice baths (content courtesy of the BBC)Paula Radcliffe may say they are the secret of her success, but Australian research is questioning the benefits of taking an ice bath after exercise.
Physiotherapists recommend the bath as a way to speed up recovery, claiming the icy cold helps shift lactic acid.
But this is unproven, and a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine now claims the opposite may be true.
Out of 40 volunteers, those who took an icy plunge reported more pain after 24 hours than those who took a tepid bath.
Tepid response
Ice baths have become one of the most fashionable ways of recovering after an intense game or marathon. From rugby to tennis players, the bath has a series of celebrity endorsers.
The theory is that the icy cold causes the blood vessels to tighten, and drains the blood along with waste products such as lactic acid out of the legs.
When Jonny Wilkinson or Paula Radcliffe emerge from the bath, their limbs fill up with fresh blood which invigorates the muscles with oxygen and helps the cells repair.
Although physiotherapists who promote the bath have had little evidence to prove this, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from the athletes themselves that the bath makes them feel better.
In line with this theory, the study carried out at the University of Melbourne had expected to find a 25% reduction in pain after 48 hours among those who had the ice immersion.
Instead it found that there was no difference in physical pain measurements such as swelling or tenderness, and in fact those who had been in the ice reported more pain when going from a sitting to a standing position after 24 hours than those who had the tepid treatment.
"This study challenges the use of ice-water immersion in athletes," wrote the researchers.
"Ice-water immersion offers no benefit for pain, swelling, isometric strength and function, and in fact may make more athletes sore the next day."
It was unclear why the ice may had this effect, and the researchers said further study was needed.
John Brewer, Director of the Lucozade Sports Science Academy, said he did not find it surprising that there was no difference between the two samples.
"I don't find it hard to believe that the ice doesn't have any long-term benefit, although I would question whether the ice group really did feel more pain after 24 hours than the tepid group. The problem with pain is that it is subjective and very hard to measure," he said.
"And because it's subjective, there may even be a placebo effect on those who take the cold bath. It's part of their ritual, it finishes off the endurance test, and many clearly report that it makes them feel better."
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"What does that bloke who runs onto the pitch actually do?"
Well that bloke has run onto the pitch for one of 2 reasons.
1. He's a stripper who wants to get into the paper!!
or more likely
2. He's the club's trainer and has been called on by the referee to attend to an injured player.
Depending on the club involved and the trainers qualifications/experience, he or she may have other duties apart from those on a match day. These could include treating players injuries during the week (if the therapist is suitably qualified), attending training sessions to monitor and help develop player fitness to working with the injured players in returning back to fitness as quickly as possible.
Match Day
It can be a very busy day!!
Match day usually starts with a check of the "magic" bag to make sure everything you're likely to need is there.
Pre-match.
Get to the match in good time to prepare. (fill the water bottles etc.)
Help the players in their pre-match preparation. e.g. Taping and strapping up, player massages.
Be around during the warm-up to deal with minor pulls etc.
During the match.
First find a warm comfortable spot in the dug-out!!
Here comes the hard part. Follow the game and try to watch out for the following.
Players signalling they're injured.
The referee or players calling for you to attend to a player.
Watching the side as a whole to see if any players look as if they have picked up an injury. These may need attention at half-time.
Following every pass, tackle and header to see any potential injury.
Making sure the subs are properly warmed up and prepared to go on if needed.
And the most important bit!!!!!
Get on to the pitch to assess any injury and take the required action.
Post Match
Deal with any injuries that may need attention.
Give out the required advice about any injuries picked up during the game.
Have a shower.
Get changed and ......................
................go and have a well deserved pint or two!!!!!!
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A warm up is intended to raise the body temperature and prepare a player physically and mentally for the game ahead. Research has suggested that the optimum duration of the warm up period, should be between 15 and 20 minutes. This should consist of a gradual increase in intensity until the player is working at 70% of maximal heart rate. A warm up at this intensity has the effect of allowing an increase in the range of movement of the joints and improving aerobic performance. This means the player becomes more flexible and running efficiency improves.
In addition to the physical effects, the warm up has the effect of preparing the player mentally by encouraging them to focus on the physical activity to follow. (Well in most cases anyway!!) |
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The warm up should begin approximately 30 minutes before kick-off:
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