Accelerated Hamstring Protocol - WSMC

The Nordbord is the only one of its kind in South Africa. This impressive piece of equipment, can be found at WSMC and forms part of our Hamstring Protocol.

See here, is WSMC Biokinetictist Richard Das Neves. He is testing a Malaysian 400m Athlete.

WHAT IS THE NORDBORD?

SCREEN | TRAIN | TEST | MONITOR

The NordBord Hamstring Testing System is the fastest, easiest and most powerful way to train, screen, monitor and rehab hamstring strength.

Use the NordBord to:

-test eccentric hamstring strength and between-limb imbalance
- test isometric hamstring strength and between-limb imbalance (prone, 30°, 60° and more)
- monitor changes in hamstring strength over time
- train with real-time feedback
- track hamstring strength gains during late-stage rehabilitation

Contact our Physiotherapist - Ziyaad Mohamed, to learn more about our accelerated hamstring protocol.

Tel: 087 9800 330
Email : info@wsmcbullring.com

Heading into the last Sunfoil Game for 2017

Monday (6 February 2017), is a travel day for the boys and after a great performance against the Warriors in East London, they definitely earned their rest. 

(Away first class games (Sunfoil Series), basically are 5 days away from home.  We normally leave Johannesburg on a Wednesday morning, get to our hotel around 1pm, catch a quick lunch and head of for training around 2pm to prepare for a game.  A training day, before a game, away from home, allows players to absorb the conditions they will face for the next 4 days and then we return to Johannesburg on Monday).

Our game against the Warriors was an extremely memorable one indeed. This for various reasons.  The weather conditions for the 4 days, were extremely poor.  Our favorable result, was purely due to the 2 captains.  Home captain Simon Harmer and Lions captain Stephen Cook, decided to make a game of the situation.  All teams in the competition could win the trophy, and both captains knew it was an all or nothing situation.  Going into the last half an hour, both teams could have won the game, but we were lucky to be on the winning side.  Hence, we find ourselves in a must win situation going into the final game of the season.  We could still win the competition.

Monday morning, was an early start.  Being the driver for the staff bus, which includes Head Coach; Geoff Toyana, Bowling Coach; Gordon Parsons and Captain Stephen Cook; we are always the first to the airport, to make sure things move smoothly for the rest of the team.

At the Lions, we are extremely blessed to have great staff at the Bullring.  Drivers, drops us off and picks us up from the airport on every away trip.  Thanks to them we all arrive safely back to HQ and all the guys, head off, to their wives, girlfriends. 

For myself, the day had just begun.  All Lions players, that are injured and required my attention, were booked to see me at The Wanderers Sports Medical Centre (WSMC).  My weekly physiotherapy report of all Lions contracted players, were sent to the Medical Staff, coaches and captain, following the game.  This is important for me to make sure the all the parties mentioned are communicated well.

The team, arrived back to the Bullring on Tuesday (7 February 2017) to start preparing for our last first class game for the season, against the Knights.  Many of the guys, started their day, at WSMC.  My appointments began at 8:30am today. 

Between 8:00am and 9:30am, I usually treat players that require maintenance work (they have slight niggles, but are fit to play).  Many of the other players, were following their “flush out” and flexibility session, in preparation for their training session.  Between 9:30am and 10:00am I strap players who require strapping.  From 10:00am to 10:30am I assist players during their warm up for practice and from 10:30am to 1pm I treat the injured players.  Hence my treatment would include “hand on” physiotherapy and rehabilitation at the Elite Functional Conditioning Centre (EFCC) supplied by Origin Fitness SA.  An environment conducive to healing.

For the rest of the day, I look after WSMC.  My day involved, meetings and treating private patients.  Since the beginning of WSMC, I have been blessed to meet and treat people other than cricketers, which is a break from the mundane.  Today was actually meant to be the launch of the Running Club at WSMC.  We have been planning something rare and unique for a few months now.  WSMC and Grant Thorthon (Auditing Company), will be collaborating to establish a Road Running Club.  This is an exciting initiative, and many of the practitioners at WSMC, are excited to share their vast knowledge with the runners of the club.  Unfortunately, due to the persistent rain, we had to cancel the launch for next week.

Lets hope that boys pull it through this week at the Bullring.  A victory against the Knights and a few favorable results in other games, could see us winning the Sunfoil Series trophy.

 #911govie 

2017 AND BEYOND

Looking back at 2016, I can easily say that I have grown tremendously as a Physiotherapist and a Businessman.

The season 2016/2017 is my 7^th with the bizhub Highveld Lions and thus far I can easily say that I have grown in purpose and desire to build the profession of physiotherapy and create a brand, that is, the Wanderers Sports Medical Centre (WSMC), based at the Bidvest Wanderers Cricket Stadium.

The 29 February 2016, was an incredible day, as it was the Grand Opening of WSMC.  The planning for that very day, took about 3 years.  Why 3 years, you may ask? 

The Bidvest Wanderers Cricket Stadium, is steeped in greatness and tradition.  This colosseum, is the arguably the best cricket stadium in South Africa and Johannesburg; with the recent Protea results and records, speaking for themselves.  The planning of such a business needed to be sound and strategic, knowing that the board members of the Gauteng Cricket Board, were not just going to allow us to build offices, put in plumbing and basically begin something that could potentially discredit an unbelievable stadium.

We had to be unique and set yourselves apart from the many other Medical Centre’s around Johannesburg.  Finding the best possible practitioners to fill positions in the centre was key.  I personally “cherry picked” them, after an interview process which probably took a year.  I then had to find the best possible “functional gym equipment supplier”.  And I definitely couldn’t afford 2 million rands worth of state-of-the-art equipment.  In stepped a man, who believed in my vision and saw the potential to create something unique and hopefully great.  Mr Ivan Blumenfeld, MD, of Origin Fitness SA, has allowed the Wanderers Sports Medical Centre, to be different and to be unique.   Not only do we have 11 specialized practitioners but we have a fully equipped, highly functional, state-of-the-art gym, totally sponsored by Origin Fitness SA.

My vision :

1. Is the bridge between the elite and amateur sportsperson. 
2. To provide the amateur with a high performance environment
3. To create an environment that is, holistic

Apart from just writing articles, about injuries and the prevention of them.  2017 will bring a certain change in my blog writing.  I will look to be more regular in my writings, but also look to give you a greater idea of routines as a physiotherapist, as well as building the WSMC Brand and more importantly the value of having a family support system which allows me to fore fill my life long dream of being an International Cricket Physiotherapist.

Take on the Bullring Fitness Challenge

Take on the Bullring Fitness Challenge: pJOBURG – Effective exercise programmes, providing the guidance to help clients achieve their personal wellness goals./p

The Wanderers Sports Medical Centre

It's been a while since my last blog but during my time away from writing, the 2015-2016 season has concluded.  Concluded with the 50 over Momentum Cup, in the cabinet and all in all a highly successful season.  A season which has produced some Protea debutants, unearthed some young new faces as well as cementing guys with real potential.  Life is about growth and development and achieving life goals.  "Never forget why?" Why did we choose our chosen path? 

WSMC opened it doors to the public on the 1 March 2016.  A momentous occasion after 3 years of planning.  The aim of WSMC is to bridge the gap between the elite and amateur sports men and women of all ages and all codes of sport.  By bringing together the best medical sports minds in Johannesburg, located at the best stadium in South Africa and possibly the world.  An iconic, colosseum known as the Bullring, which has played host to some of the best cricket games, the world has ever seen.  

To establish WSMC, meant we had to bring something new and unique to the sports world.  We needed to create a new trend, that could set yourselves apart from other medical centre's and sports medical centre's

WSMC is associated with the Elite Functional and Conditioning Centre (EFCC) supplied by Origin Fitness.  Origin Fitness is the best functional training equipment supplier in South Africa.  Their association has been immense towards establishing a unique environment.  The EFCC is a functional training gym, with some of the best state of the art equipment seen in South Africa.  This unique gym, thus compliments each and every practitioner in the centre.  It enhances high performance and contributes to the professionalism of the physiotherapists, biokinetictists, personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches.    

The dream, has been established but the hard work now begins.  My dream team consists of the following practitioners :

1. Biokinetictists - Leon Keulder ( President Biokineticts SA) and Richard Das Neves

2. Chiropractors  - Drs Simon Lawson ( President Chiro SA) and Jaiden Mayes

3. Clinical Psychologist - Dr Cynthia Laureano ( Sports Psychologist )

4. Homeopaths - Drs Prenitha Naidoo and Sarah Caldwell 

5. Sports Doctor - Dr Lervasen Pillay ( Highveld Lions & Bidvest WITS PSL )

6. Orthotist and Prosthetist - David Berkowitz 

7. Podiatrist - Louise Stirk

8. Physiotherapist - Ziyaad Mohamed

9. Sports Massage Therapist - Karin Bradford

10. Sports Vision Optometrist - Natalie Horwitz 

11. Strength and Conditioning - Aubrey Ndisengei 

WSMC Philosophy :

The core value is to promote individualized care.  He or she who walks in through the doors of the centre, is seen to be the most important individual in the eyes of the practitioner.

WSMC is a community-based centre that opens its doors to any individual who seeks the best medical assistance possible.

WSMC bases itself on the pillars of:

1. Humility

2. Hard-work

3. Teamwork

4. Communication and

5. Ultimate professionalism 

WSMC Mission:

1. We shall treat every person with the humility they deserve 

2. Hard-work is the corner stone to smart work

3. Teamwork makes the dream work

4. Individualized care is of paramount importance

5. Communication is vital, between the practitioner, coach and client

6. To focus on, up to date evidence based research

WSMC Vision:

1. To create sustainability

2. To enhance the knowledge of coaches and athletes in all spheres of sport

3. To create a sustainable screening and monitoring system for school kids

4. To enhance long term athletic development

5. To produce well-rounded athletes for Gauteng, other provinces and South Africa

6. Create Social Entrepreneurship

Life is certainly not about the now, not about what we can achieve today and forget about tomorrow.  Life is about establishing written goals and dreams and being motivated to achieve those short term goals to eventually reach the finish line and get to those long term goals.

Achieving sporting greatness, health and fitness does not happen after taking a magic pill.  But only happens by planting a seed, and nurturing that seed on a daily basis, de weeding your surroundings, dealing with heat and dry conditions and eventually becoming a bright blooming flower, that will eventually allow for germination.  Hence learning from life's richest path and paying it forward to someone who can learn from your previous experiences is of at most importance. 

My personal aim is to pay it forward and provide a environment for the practitioners, clients, coaches and staff to flourish.

The Wanderers Sports Medical Centre, is a community based centre, which is open to every member of the public, young and old, fit or unfit, professional or amateur and every code of sport.  Our supporter who buys seasons tickets year in and year out, is welcome to share the same gym as his or her hero's and park in safe and secure surrounding within the Bullring.

Train where legends play......

Twitter & Instagram : @wsmc_bullring

Facebook & LinkedIn : Wanderers Sports Medical Centre 

The Defining Line

Cricket, football, tennis, squash, athletics, rugby etc etc etc... All great sports which have been in existence for a very very long time. 

I remember growing up Chatsworth, Kharwastan and spending hours playing sport in our streets' cul de sac. We had a cricket season, football season and played tennis around July with "strawberries and cream" not to far away.

During these seasonal games, we had to prepare for our opposition.  Preparation in this sense meant, drawing "LINES" on the street to make a cricket pitch ( the crease and wide lines), the goal line and the tennis court.  Why did we need "LINES"? Why has sports for generations require this most important piece of "equipment".  That is, the white chalk or paint, which allowed the game to commence and end? If we really think about, without chalk or paint, sport may not actually exist. How would we have winners or losers? 

The "LINE", defines sport.  This four letter word, has more meaning to sport than exactly the games itself.  

Today, a "no ball" in cricket can change the momentum of a game massively.  It can dictate a batsman's length of time at the crease or in the limited format, mean a "free hit", which can swing the momentum of the game and the confidence of a batsmen.

In football, there are now goal line referees.  This is to guard against incorrect goal line calls which could mean the difference between a World Cup winners medal or not.  The famous Sir Geoff Hurst, from England, scored a goal in the 1966 World Cup Final against West Germany, which had some controversy about it. 

"Hawk eye" technology has advanced the game of tennis.  This by limiting human error and promoting correct decisions.  The importance of taking care of the "LINE".  It is inexpensive but defining.

Recently I came across a very profound picture which also defines the importance of sport. And a strong philosophy which I try to inculcate in the training of sportspeople. "GET TO THE LINE".  

Here the LINE is important during the conditioning of players.  Creating an environment which breeds excellence by not turning short and taking shortcuts defines an individual.

Again the LINE has defining meanings. A simple aspect in sports that is so defining and profound, that it can dictate an outcome of a game.  It brings an emotional part to sport as players are either positively or negatively inclined due to a LINE call or it can show people within my industry, the true mental make up of an individual. In this case, turning short and looking for shortcuts will poorly define an individual.  The LINE is there for a very specific reason and has been there for many generations and will continue to be there for eternity.  No one individual can defy the LINE.  

Take care of the LINE, your sport and your team mates and the LINE will take care of you.  In my eyes the LINE has a very philosophical meaning. 

@Craig_gov

Instagram : 911Govie

    

Steven Gerrard

This Saturday, concludes one of sports greatest love stories.  I've been a Liverpool Football Club supporter for as long as I can remember and I clearly remember making a brown cardboard poster, supporting my team against Nottingham Forest in the 1988/89 FA Cup.  Playing sports and football at a young age, was due to my dad, who began an Under 10 football team, in our neighbour.  We played the game for hours on end and loved every moment of it.

Being at home, with my folks over the last few weeks, have evoked many precious memories from my youth, growing up in Kharwastan, Durban. Life was simple and the strong family values instilled in me were immeasurable.  

Similar to Steven Gerrard's 17 year love affair, with Liverpool Football Club, it seems that many values have been instilled into him by various role models along his chosen path.  He is a sporting legend to me and someone I have lots of admiration for.  Apart from his ability with the football at his feet, he is a "FAMILY MAN" and epitomizes "PROFESSIONALISM".  Having read he latest media release, "Stevie G", was apologetic to his "TEAM", as he feels he is taking away all the attention from the game against Crystal Palace. 

Apart from being a family man, he respects his parents massively and he praises the coaches, who have walked the path with him.  From Liverpool youth coaches, Steve Heighway, Dave Shannon and Huge McAuley, to his former manager Gerard Houllier, whom he saw as a father figure and the manager who gave him the club captaincy at the age of 23.  To his current coach, in Brendon Rogers, whom he feels is a great man manager.

Steven Gerrard, may not be seen as the greatest footballer in the world.  But he is a great to the many millions of Liverpool fans around the world.  He is a team man.  He is passionate about Liverpool, the club and the city and has stayed with the team through thick and thin and was not lured into chasing the power of the pound.  He is a humble man, who tries to live a life under the radar.  

This brings me to, the power of a role models. By definition, A role model is a person whose behaviour, example or success is or can be emulated by others, especially by the younger people.  The term " role model" is credited to sociologist Robert K Merton, who coined the phrase during his career.  Merton hypothesized that individuals compare themselves with reference groups of people who occupy the social role to which the individual aspires.  An example being the way fans will idolize and imitate professional athletes or entertainment artists.  

It is important to have role models but it's even more important develop your own philosophies and build your own legacy and not live in the shadow of others.  This hence, brings about dreams, goals and responsibility for those aspirations. 

Steven Gerrard's legacy will remain strong and loud for a very long time to come, due to his loyalty, passion and professionalism to the LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB.  

YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE  

@Craig_gov

Why do so many batsman suffer from neck stiffness?

The medical term for a stiff and painful neck is called, an Acute Wry Neck.  This is often accompanied by spasm of the surrounding neck muscles, neck pain and an inability to turn your neck through its full range of motion. 

Acute wry neck is an extremely common condition, which can be quite disabling as the sufferer experiences constant severe pain with simple neck movements.   

The most common cause of acute wry neck, is due to a locked facet joint.  Facet joints are located at the back of your spinal column. These facet joints allow, guide and limit the movements of your neck. Your facet joints are intended to allow smooth gliding movements between the adjacent vertebra. Occasionally your facet joints can become either stiff through traumatic injury or arthritis or simply get stuck at at extreme of movement. 

A common reported history for the wry neck patient is to wake with a stiff and painful neck.  Onset of the wry neck is usually sudden. The cause may have included a restless night sleep, uncomfortable pillow, waking suddenly in the night (eg a noise) or simply unknown.   Professional cricketers, travel a great deal, that is, sleeping on long flights to various countries around the world and most importantly, they sleep in different beds and on different pillows.  A pillow is extremely important for a comfortable sleep and a "healthy" neck.  The comfort and moulding of a pillow to a cricketers neck, changes from their own pillow at home, to a pillow in a hotel in Brisbane, London and Colombo.   Apart from this, I feel that batsman are more prone to wry necks because of long periods of batting, in the same side-on position.  They need to keep their head in a side-on position for a repeated time to face a bowler.  Hence, this becomes a repeated movement and an overuse movement.

Wry neck pain is due to the numerous nerve endings that are located in the facet joint itself and in the tissues adjacent to the facet joint. Facet wry neck is most common in younger populations, ranging from young children to people in their thirties. Older facet wry neck sufferers tend to have a more gradual onset with the facet joints becoming "rusty" over time.

Signs and Symptoms of Facet Wry Neck

Pain – generally located in the middle or side of the neck that is affected. The onset of pain is sudden. The pain experienced does not extend beyond the shoulder joint.

Loss of Movement – your neck is generally fixed in an abnormal position – most commonly flexed forward and rotated away from the side of pain. All movements aggravate the pain, as the joint is fixed and movement triggers irritation to the joint and thus pain.

Muscle Spasm – this is a tightening of the associated neck muscles that further limit movement.

Treatment:

Physiotherapists assess your neck and confirms which joint or joints are locked, they will utilise a range of low risk joint treatment techniques and soft tissue massage to normalise your facet joint function. 

While the joint can almost always be immediately unlocked, you will have some residual muscle spasm and swelling in the region due to the trauma. Think how a sprained ankle swells! Neck joints will also swell, but it won't be  as visible.

How Long is Recovery?

Most acute wry necks can be unlocked immediately. However the residual effects may last for up to one week. It is also important to normalise your neck muscle and joint function (eg strength and motion) to prevent a regular recurrence, which unfortunately commonly occurs if your neck injury is poorly rehabilitated.

 @ Craig_gov

Craig Govender Physiotherapy @ The Bullring

The Man in the Stands

I wanted to entitle this blog, the lonely man in the stands but are all these men and woman who spend their time and money supporting teams around the world, really lonely?

I beg to differ on all accounts.  To me, the greatest supporters of sport, love what they do unconditionally.  They have an undying passion for their sport and team.  As a famous author once wrote, they lead without a title.  They are leaders in their on right.  He/she could be a CEO of a major company or someone that just makes ends meet, who are we to know.  Players may not know if he/she is in the stadium. Publicity, fame and fortune has never been on top of their endless list.  Status, power and money does not dictate the life of the man in the stands.

I dedicate this blog to a man that does not seek public fame, a mention in the newspaper or glittering photographs.   He is a man that silently flies, or drives around the country and watches each and every ball with the attention to detail any coach would.  This is a man that bestowed me, with a gift that is worth millions.

The simple things in life allows us to enjoy this beautiful game.  A game that brings so much joy to the man in the stands.  

@Craig_gov

A Comparison of Distances Covered by Athletes from Different Codes of Sports

Cricket may seem like a slow game, but the distances covered by mainly fast bowlers are great.  Fast bowlers cover more distance than half marathon runners at times. Recently during a Boxing Day, Ashes Test Match, Mitchell Johnson was recorded as having covered 23 kilometers on the first day.  He also reached speeds of 33.1kph and this was achieved by chasing a ball to the boundary.  The fastest speed recorded using the Australian GSP monitoring system, was done by Brett Lee, who reached a speed of 36kpm.  This is faster than most wingers, in AFL, rugby league and union.

A fast bowler is generally said to cover about 15km in 50 over cricket (including the walk back to the mark) and more than 20km in a day for a Test match.

 

A Comparison:

SPORT	TIME	DISTANCE
Half Marathon	58:23min – World Record 90min – Competitive 120min – Amateur	21.1km
Cricket (fast bowler)	180min 360min	@ 15km – ODI @ 20km - TEST
Football player (midfielder and wingers cover more distance	90min	@ 8-15km
Field Hockey	70min	@ 7-9km
Tennis	300min  665min (World Record)	@4-5km @9.6km each player