Article
Professional sports medical service on the example of the Austrian Youth Soccer Nationalteam during European championship qualifications
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Authors
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Christian Angleitner
- Institut of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Hospital of the Sisters of Charity Ried, Ried, Austria
| Published: | October 24, 2011 |
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Outline
Text
On the occasion of the Challenge 2008 project the Austrian Soccer Association placed the sports medical treatment in professional hands.
In addition to the technical department with a head coach, an assistant coach, a goalkeeper coach and a team manager, a professional sports medicine unit was installed by a team doctor, physical therapist, masseur and sports psychologist.
Usually 2 or 3 days before departure the players are convened at a date and subjected to detailed sports medical examinations. Ailing or injured players will be dismissed from the squad. Finally, 18 players are taken to the qualifying tournament.
The normal daily routine begins with the capillary blood collection to determinate CPK (creatine phosphokinase) and BUN (blood urea). In consultation with the team coach the players are divided into several intensity groups for training due to the current laboratory values. So an individual morning training is possible.
After the prescribed lunch break, there are regenerative measures with complex physical therapy as for example electrotherapy, massage, physical therapy, the attachment of various bandages and medical therapies.
On race days the game usually takes place in the late afternoon.
In case of acute injury the player has to be treaten on the field, the degree of injury has to be evaluated and, if necessary further diagnoses and decisions about treatment inpatient or outpatient have to be organized.
On a competition-free day, there are either other therapeutic applications, a regenerative oriented training or a common activity to promote social cohesion.
In the evening analyses of the games are on the program, on free days it is very common to watch championship games, games in UEFA Cup, Champions League or national team games.
In such qualifying tournaments regular doping controls are on the agenda. It is important that the players and the entire care team is regularly informed about the latest developments in this regard.
The composition of the diet plan also falls to the sports physician. This turns out of the upcoming or completed exposure.
There are to complete 3 games within 6 days with an 18-man squad. Mostly the last game is the play-off. The physical fitness and the number of not injured players and not at least the sport-specific skills essentially decide about success or failure and depend crucially on the quality of sports medicine care.
