Injury

What to Do With A Hamstring Tear

The following piece was prepared for SC1 Sports by Michael Hegarty MCSP MISCP BSc – Chartered Physiotherapist. You can contact Michael at: The Physiotherapy Room,Old Library Trust, Creggan. Tel: 02871373870 www.thephysiotherapyroom.com What is a pulled hamstring or hamstring strain? A hamstring strain or a pulled hamstring as it is sometimes called is a tear in one or more of the hamstring muscles. Strictly speaking there are three hamstring muscles (Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris) which are known as the hamstring muscle group. The role of the hamstring muscles is to bend (flex) the knee and to move the thigh backwards at the hip (extend the hip). Understanding how the hamstrings work gives … Continue reading →

Pre-Season and the Suunto M5

One torn hamstring, one ridiculous text message and almost 2 years later I finally return to Steelstown Brian Óg’s. There were a number of factors that led me to become disillusioned, but every player at some point knows this feeling. Nonetheless I have returned to the club that I started out with, and I have no intentions of leaving it. Although the season has just finished there is a long, tough pre-season ahead and to be honest I’m relishing every minute of it. For the next 3 months the training will be intense, the eating will be clean and the hunger for next season will be insatiable. Myself and fellow teammates have … Continue reading →

Mouthguard: Tracking Technology

So far, I have covered two other types of tracking technology that athletes have been using to analyse performance. We had GP Sports, which was a vest usually seen in warmups and in pre-season by football teams. Then we had the E39, a new under armour top developed by Under Armour and Zephyr, which many NFL draftees were being tested in, as well as the Wales rugby team in their build-up to the Rugby World Cup. Now, I have come across a new type of tracking technology, an innovative and creative way of collecting information that is also sure to benefit the lives of our athletes. A study was done last year … Continue reading →

E39 Under Armour: Tracking Technology

The Rugby World Cup kicks off this Friday and I’m sure teams are putting the final touches to their preparations and making sure all their players are fighting fit for the campaign. The Welsh team face a tough opener against Pool D favourites South Africa on Sunday. I have come across a new type of technology in tracking player performance in training, and the Welsh team has been using this for their buildup to the World Cup. The under armour shirt is called E39, and developed by Under Armour. It is said to give coaches and players a ‘new perspective on performance’, with a small sensor near the sternum that tracks breathing … Continue reading →

Kinesio Taping: Injury Treatment

Have you ever watched your favourite sport to see an athlete with a black strip of tape on their leg, or somewhere on their body? Well I can tell you what it is…it’s Kinesiology Tape. Kinesio Taping began in 1979 by Dr. Kenzo Kase and it has gone on to become a worldwide treatment by medical and sports professionals. But what does it do exactly? The official Kinesio Taping website tells us it is used to “facilitate the body’s natural healing process while allowing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion.” The elastic tape is meant to be close in texture to human skin. This … Continue reading →

TRX: Injury Prevention

Next week sees the start of a new Premiership season, and I’m sure I can speak on behalf of you all when I say we can’t wait. Unfortunately, we have to sit through international friendlies and hope our players can avoid injury for the opening fixtures. This is the most idiotic time for international football matches, and if I remember hearing correctly, they plan arranging more friendlies throughout the season. Genius. Last summer Liverpool FC brought in a new Sports Science team, considered top of the area. Dr. Peter Brukner is Head of the Department and oversees all thing Sports Science at the club. Another Ozzy, Darren Burgess, is the Fitness and … Continue reading →

GP Sports: Tracking Technology

Today saw a lot of the Premiership teams put through their paces back at their training grounds as the first day of pre-season began. Being an #LFC fan, I was eager to check up on my teams progress on their first day, and also to see what kind of shape Big Andy Carroll was in after his Ibiza and ‘Glasto’ adventures. Apart from the excitement of Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky being back at Melwood, I noticed each player wearing a black bra-type bib. So what is GP Sports? According to their site (http://gpsports.com/gpsports_website/), GP Sports Tracking and Analysis Technologies are being used to improve the performance of elite team sport. They … Continue reading →