The Winter Olympics are well underway now in Sochi and we’ve been following the events since they started on the 6th February. The Winter Olympics are such an exciting competition and for many of the athletes involved, this is the pinnacle of their careers.
Physiotherapists play such an important role in these games and often, the last person to speak to the athletes before they compete is their physiotherapist. There are seven physiotherapists responsible for the 57 athletes that make up Team GB; these are Chief Physio Fiona Mather, Headquarters physio Sian Knott and five other sport specific physios.
Also, from the 8th March, 15 Paralympians will start competing for Team GB in alpine skiing and wheelchair curling. Paul Gould and Craig More are the designated, sports-accredited physiotherapists who will be accompanying them. A lot of the athletes in the team have qualified thanks to the crucial work their physiotherapists have done with them over the years, especially in rehabilitation.
In the Winter Olympics, a higher percentage of injuries that occur are deemed “traumatic” because of the extreme nature of the sports. But with great physiotherapists on hand to treat those injured, and to prepare them adequately before the games, the athletes are in a strong position. In skiing, the most common injuries are to the knee, not surprisingly with the speed they race at.
We’ve been providing physiotherapy in Manchester for over 25 years and we’ve seen a lot of skiers come in with knee injuries. It’s a really tough sport and we admire the dedication it takes to be in tip top shape for these games. Here at Advance Physio, we’re all rooting for Team GB to do as well as possible!
