FROM THE TREATMENT ROOM
FROM THE
TREATMENT
ROOM
FIT FOR KICK OFF
As we all look forward to the summer and the World Cup, this is an insight to what it’s like for the
England medical staff at the World Cup, following a talk I attended, given by GARY LEWIN, the
England Physio. Towards the middle of May, the England World Cup squad will gather, fresh from a
long hard premiership season, to prepare for the World Cup finals in Brazil. Broad preparation and
planning has been going on behind the scenes since the qualifying matches started two years ago. That
planning, coupled with experience and knowledge gained from previous World Cup finals, is aimed at
providing a backcloth against which the players can perform to the best of their ability.
THE MEDICAL TEAM - The Football Association, via its many departments, provides and organises
the facilities that will be required and leaves nothing to chance. There are back up and contingency
plans for everything that might, or might not, be needed. The fine tuning of the day to day detail is, of
course, in the hands of the team manager Roy Hodgson. In order for him to plan efficiently, he needs
feedback from his coaching, training and medical staff .Dr Ian Beasley, Physio Gary Lewin and the rest
of the medical staff are responsible for the daily availability of as many fit players as possible, to train
and for reporting back on the general health of the players and observing any other points that may be
relevant to the well being of the group.
Those are, in fact, the terms of reference under which they operate at all England matches .The
difference in a tournament like the World Cup finals is that they are together for a few weeks instead of
just a few days, with the problems that travel, foreign food and an unaccustomed climate can
superimpose on the usual caseload of
"running repair" injuries and the ever present
possibility of serious injury. To minimise the hazards of food ,travel, climate etc, the doctor takes all the
usual sensible prophylactic measures and advises the players long before they arrive, on the part they
can play in keeping fit and healthy. They carry every possible medication to facilitate this situation and
feedback from all members of staff (and players) is also used to monitor this most important factor. The
medical staff and the rest of the staff a