Why physios and athletes have become the best of friends

While it may be unfair to say that the stars of sport in the 20th century lived recklessly, comparing them to the monk-like behaviour of the world's finest athletes today certainly makes them appear that way. Everything from training to nutrition is now placed under the microscope, analysed in super-slow motion and high definition to eke out every last percentage gain. And at the top of that list is the focus placed on recovery.

No one epitomises this shift more profoundly than the new champion of Wimbledon, Andy Murray. The recent BBC documentary, "The Man Behind the Racquet" could easily have featured a spin-off series entitled, "The Man Behind the Man that holds the Racquet". Such is the importance of his physiotherapist, Andy Ireland. Murray has had several coaches during the course of his career but interestingly his other backroom staff - his fitness guru and his physio - have remained constant. Not bad when you consider that they preside over up to 2 hours of therapy and training after he's finished his match and completed all those lengthy press conferences.

So what exactly does the physio do?

Well in the case of Andy Ireland it is all about enabling Murray to recover from both fatigue and injury as swiftly as possible: working out the lactic acid and toxins in tired legs, treating new or existing injuries and preventing future ones. On a daily basis this means using ice baths, heat treatments, sports massage and acupuncture to drain the muscles of lactic acid and other metabolic by-products that build up during exercise. The use of acupuncture in treating Murray has earned him the name "Needles" within the tennis circuit.

Nickname aside, Ireland proves that a physiotherapist is critical to the two-time grand slam champion's success. He will play an increasingly important role as Murray gets older and fights to maintain his conditioning levels. Andy's friend and British doubles player Ross Hutchins credits Ireland with "An unbelievable understanding of Andy's body", something which allowed him to not only return Murray to fitness after a back injury kept him out of this year's French Open, but made him strong enough to become the first male British winner at Wimbledon in 77 years.

It's not just professionals who can benefit from sports injury treatment

The success of Andy Murray's meticulous attention to detail is there for all to see. But what can the general public take from his achievements?

While it's unlikely that most of us will ever make it as Britain's number 1, everyone from the most avid sportsperson to the most casual exerciser can benefit from the right type of physiotherapy treatment. Whether it's making significant physical gains, keeping sports injuries at bay or alleviating something as common as neck pain or back pain, we can gain more enjoyment from our time on the court, pitch or track with the right support.

At TG Physiotherapy Care we can help patients of all ages, shapes, sizes and sporting proficiencies for their injuries and requirements. If you have any muscle or ligament strains, muscle imbalances, tendonitis or joint hypermobility, why not get in touch with a leading physio in Nottingham to discuss your goals. Contact us now on 07866 464385.