The Physio’s Point Of View

Week one of pre-season has commenced and the lads have hit the ground running.

The players returned to training for a full squad session in Cork on Wednesday, rested on Thursday, and were back in their separate centres today as they continued their week one pre-season training.

We caught up with Head of Physiotherapy Anthony Coole in CIT today for the players afternoon conditioning session.

"The big thing with the lads coming back after their time off, is how quickly you introduce the load in to their programme and the Strength and Conditioning coaches have that all planned and structured with a progression from week one leading right up until the week of the first pre-season match.

The biggest challenge for the players is the new load on their bodies and the effects it might have on them so the majority of them would have done the work they were given in the off-season. If they have done all that work then we shouldn’t have any problems unless they have pre-existing conditions, and there are certain fellas like that, in which case you have to manage their load very carefully so that you don’t create more issues than you need to. But you also need to introduce some load otherwise they would be underprepared leading into the pre-season matches.

Things we’ll see at this stage will be soft tissue stuff, lower back stiffness from the running load, and a few lower limb issues. The physio work would be predominantly aimed at all of those. Then the other work that we would be doing is looking after anyone who would have had any surgery at the end of last season or pre-existing conditions that need constant maintenance and work on.

I think we’re almost busier in pre-season because there is so much more going on. We’re involved in every session that is going on during the day and you are trying to be a part of that, to guide individuals and look after others, and then you do your physiotherapy work once they’re finished training.

Time wise we may be busier but we should have fewer injuries to look after as such. We have the masseurs working, doing their rubs as well, so it’s a busy time for them also."