June 2010 - Clontarf Football Academy and School of Physiotherapy Clinic Team Up

 

The School of Physiotherapy is working with the Clontarf Football Academy to provide a tailored sports injury screening and management service for their indigenous players. The idea emerged after a meeting in February between physiotherapy staff members A/Prof. Steve Edmondston and Karen Richards, and Clontarf coaches Karl Pirrottina and Jeremy Humm and Clontarf Careers and VET co-ordinator Stephen Kernutt.

The coaches were keen to utilise the clinical expertise of Curtin's Physiotherapy Clinic to provide their players with easy access to treatment as well as information about how to manage their injuries. They were also uncertain whether the practice of training in barefeet might lead to long term injuries.

A number of research studies that have found that there are differences in injury rates of indigenous players as compared to non-indigenous players. The majority of these injuries affect the musculo-skeletal system and may be related to cultural differences hip range of motion and foot type which, in indigenous populations, tends to be more pronated.

To meet the needs of the Academy, Richards implemented the AFL's Musculo-skeletal Screening Protocol. According to Richards, "the screening is in 3 parts; the first is a questionnaire regarding pre-existing injury and medical history, the second part looks at postural type and the third involves a variety of valid and reliable screening tests specific to Australian rules football". She adds "from our perspective the program is a way of introducing the players to physiotherapy, as well as teaching our students about musculo-skeletal screening. We also wanted to find if there are any trends in the players' screening results that could be addressed by education about stretching or motor control exercise programs which could be delivered by our students".

To date, twenty players have completed the screening program and fifteen players have attended the Clinic for treatment. Several players with pre-existing injuries that had not been treated appropriately have been identified and these players are currently receiving rehabilitation.
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