Ireland’s Dr Marie-Elaine Grant’s played a key role in the International Olympic Committee’s Medical Commission (Games Group), for the London Games and was responsible for monitoring all physiotherapy activities and facilities for the 205 nations participating. During the Games 800 physiotherapists were utilised.
Marie Elaine has on going responsibility for providing the Medical and Scientific Department of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne with guidelines on the organisation of physiotherapy services for Olympic Games and is now the contact person for the IOC for all issues related to physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Next up Sochi 2014.
Dr Grant has served as Chief Physiotherapist to the Irish Olympic teams for five consecutive Olympic Games commencing with the 1992 Barcelona Olympics through to the 2008 Beijing Games.
She has also served with the Irish Winter Olympic teams in Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 as well as 10 European Youth Olympic teams.
Following the London Games she commissioned research on ‘The Role of Sports Physiotherapy at the London 2012 Olympic Games’ and an analysis of the London 2012 Physiotherapy Polyclinic activity. One key finding was the high percentages of pre- existing and overuse injuries identified in athletes seeking physiotherapy at Games time are significant.
The attached research paper which has just been published in the current January 2014 issue of the BJSM conclusion below; and a copy of the full text can be accessed here Br J Sports Med-2014-Grant-63-701
Conclusion, key findings and impact on clinical practice for the future
This study of the London 2012 Olympic Games workload highlights the physiotherapy needs of athletes and non-athletes, and identifies a high number of pre-existing and overuse injuries in this setting, providing an insight into the reasons why athletes seek physiotherapy support during the Olympic Games.
The study has also demonstrated the extensive role of the sports physiotherapist beyond the treatment of injury to a broader role by also providing assistance with maintenance and recovery.
The expansion of the current injury surveillance systems and an appropriate Electronic Medical Record system are required to provide a more detailed classification system on diagnosis, grade of injury and the extent to which performance or training is impaired as a result of injury.
What are the new findings?
▸ Identifies the variation in physiotherapy activity between the athletes and non-athletes highlighting the different needs of each group.
▸ Further insight into the reasons why athletes seek the support of physiotherapy during the Olympic Games highlighting the role of physiotherapists in supporting athlete performance.
▸ Demonstrates the high incidence of pre-existing and overuse injuries.
How might this article impact on clinical practice in the near future?
▸ Future Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (OCOGs) needs to plan and provide physiotherapy services meet the needs of athletes and non-athletes.
▸ Implementation of further injury prevention strategies to reduce the high incidence of athletes presenting with pre-existing and overuse injuries.
▸ Development of improved electronic medical record systems to accurately record the physiotherapy data.
▸ Provision of a multidisciplinary team of sports massage, osteopaths and chiropractors has created a new benchmark for future OCOGs in terms of the skill mix available and the access to physical therapies for athletes during the Olympic Games.