SPACE Physio speaks to America! Groin Injury key topic!

This week saw a first in that it was the first time that @SpaceClinics had a representative speaking at the Sports Physical Therapy Section(SPTS) of the Physical Therapy Association of America!

Presenting 'Groin Injuries in Rugby', Stephen Mutch spoke at the pre conference International Federation of Sports' Physical Therapy (IFSP) organised session of the 2012 'Team Concept' Conference.

This follows on from the well-received 'Rehabilitation of Regional Groin Pain'  in Cardiff 2011 at ACPSM Bi-enniel Conference.

For a look at the general  points from that presentation ckick here: General Points on Rehab of Regional Groin Pain

Overall, the extensive programme here will allow for us to eyeball the  American perspective to rehab in particular, and will be fed back to the SPACE physio crew to discuss whether or not we bring some of the tests and exercises into our regular patient procedures at Dalry. Don't be surprised if there are more references like 'Hiney' & 'Big House'!

Is sleep important when technology rules? 1 in 3 would give up sex rather than their smartphone!

Crazy as it sounds, technology plays such a role in life that 95% of people use some form of Web or text communication in the hour before bed, or will watch television.

The Sleep Council suggests that this is contributory to a 'sleep deprivation epidemic' but with 33% of 18-29 year olds preferring to give up sex than their Smartphones then is it a surprise that important sleep periods are being disrupted by gadgety? Indeed 97% of Brits are alleged to have a tv, mobile or computer near their beds!

Remember that sleep is a critical aspect of every day, with a phase of 'rest & repose' being the antidote to the 'fight or flight' mode we frequently encounter in concious daytime stimulated by forms of stress. This division of the autonomic branch of the peripheral nervous system is a part of the parasympathetic nervous system & has a targeted & localised response particularly to the organs. 

Synthesis of glycogen occurs with stimulation, and the system is known for craniosacral outflow which is interesting for manual therapists engaging in craniosacral types of treatments. 

It goes without saying that as promotion of this is carried out when sedentary & asleep so optimising this for digestive & organ health would seem sensible.

Late night stress from email or gaming or thrilling entertainment can therefore be seen in this light as promoting the sympathetic nervous system with the contrary fight or flight sympathetic diffuse effects affecting the entire system.

For the full article read 

http://www.sleepcouncil.org.uk/2012/11/sleep-council-hits-out-at-not-so-smart-sleep/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter.

Just don't be tempted to read it on your phone or computer just before bedtime!

Sweet Dreams!

NRL bans shoulder charges: a nation debates! Are all contributors all using their heads...???

Australian Rugby League will no longer shoulder the charge of promoting unacceptable tacking: by banning shoulder charges!

Club Doctors welcomed the move by the Australian Rugby League Commision and therefore the National Rugby League (NRL). They also have some support from the New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) whom have had a ban in place domestically for 6 years.

But the social media and club wenbsites are alive with fans and players past or present railing against the move which has been said to have taken place without any consultation with the clubs or the Rugby League Players' Association (RPLA). However there had been a request for contributions to the review four months ago which has apparently yielded all of two player responses.

Fox Sports highlighted recent 'Big Hits'
http://bit.ly/UgP0dn

Now however they are super keen to voice their concerns, frequently via social media for example: 

(see here latest poster boy Sonny Bill Williams 

‏@SonnyBWilliams

You need good timing and technique to pull of a shoulder charge simply put if you can't do it don't try... This is league not tiddlywinks!! 

or Melbourne Storm hero Ryan Hoffman @RyanHoffman12
Banning the shoulder charge is going 2 result in some boring highlights packages. We run in2 people 4 a living.#dontbantheshouldercharge).

Even Club websites are running player opinions alongside the rider that their views are players' own and not necessarily the clubs: eg See Newcastle Knights Player Reactions.

RPLA boss David Garnsey made a statement: "The RPLA certainly wants its members to have long, productive and injury-free football careers and to enjoy good health once they have retired".

Fans of the game have been visceral in their support for hard hitting and shoulder charges, with respectable medical men such as John Orchard (Doctor to the Sydney Roosters) receiving appalling abuse on twitter for his support. To his credit he is retweeting such contacts to widen the debate.

At the core appear to be the difference in the perception of statistics between concerned opponents to the tackling and the rapacious supporters of physical contact whom suggest that the review's changes are based on limited injuries in a contact sport. 

Australian Rugby League Commission Review Findings

There was found to be 0.05% of tackles (all 142,355 of them) in 2012 happened to be shoulder charges with less than 4% of those resulting in injury to the attacking player, and less than 1% to the defender. As 17% resulted in contact with the head of the attacking player, there was felt to be a potential risk, and the Commission was said to have felt that the shoulder charge was "not a significant part of the game" and therefore its removal would "not likely to impact on the way the game is played".

This does not seem to be the case for fans of the game, and a vocal number of players past and present-the inevitable online petition has been started. The debate has led to mass publicity of significant numbers of sites and video clips of shoulder charges and 'big hits'.

Just one point from us: the average G-force of the shoulder charge was measured from accelerometer data, and demonstrated that a shoulder charge was 76% greater than a conventional head-on tackle.

Makes you think? At least a little...

Wiggo & Shane Sutton injured in road accidents on successive days: Something must be done to protect cyclists is the cry from British Cycling

Remarkably two key members of this summer's inspirational cycling success at Team Sky & Team GB have been injured this week in separate incidents with vehicles!

Tour de France victor Bradley Wiggins and Australian coach credited with being successful in coaching within the two teams, Shane Sutton have both been hospitalised as a result of their injuries.

Shane Sutton injured in bike accident

Bradley Wiggins was leaving the Royal Preston Hospital having broken ribs and suffering hand and wrist injuries on the day Sutton was injured. 'Wiggo' was hit by a white Vauxhall Astra Envoy as it emerged from a garage forecourt on to the main road near the village of Wrightington in Lancashire.

 Wiggins injured by vehicle

Sutton was injured  in an incident on the A6 near Levenshulme in Manchester. Despite wearing a helmet, Sutton suffered bleeding to the head and brain on assessment at Greater Manchester Hospital. British Cycling have had very few episodes of injuries with athletes or coaches, so to have two such accidents in two days is remarkable. 

A British Cycling spokesman has said that :"We call on the Government to put cycling at the heart of transport policy to ensure cycle safety".

The Automobile Association has also weighed in to remind drivers of their responsibilities for additional care in the darker nights of Winter as we plunge into November.

Vial and masked: Latest attempts to combat jetlag by the New Zealand All Blacks

It is one of long-haul's biggest challenges. It is a key factor for organisations of political as well as sporting visits. It affects everyone differently. It is jetlag.

The premier rugby team, New Zealand, unbeaten since before the Rugby World Cup in the Autumn of 2011, have ofered their players fluid concoctions & masks to combat the dehydrating & fatiguing effects from airline travel via Hong Kong to Europe.

Team Medic Deb Robinson explained that in addition to plentiful water and the First Class accommodation, the players woukd also be offered three cloured vials and a mask.  NZ rugby website explains a little...

One vial is taken on departure, one midflight and another prior to landing. This last one is caffeinated and designed to give a 'kick' prior to landing. A New Zealand company, Flyhidrate, is linked to these products and are fruit based having been developed with scientists from the University of Otago.
The masks have been used previously and have a little coil that absorbs the moisture breathed out and remoisturises the air as it is breathed back in. Read more on this attempt to combat jet lag here: How New Zealand rugby team avoid jet lag

Hopefully for the players, they were flying Air New Zealand, and had an opportunity of viewing the latest safety briefing film, having taken on starring roles in one just a year ago prior to the Rugby World Cup.

In this offering, replacing Graham Henry & Richie McCaw are characters from the Hobbit! Viewing figures of the safety briefing for this airline are supposedly increased when the light-hearted screenings take place!