FEATURE: LIFE ON TOUR LIFE ON TOUR: WORKING ON THE ROAD AS A SPORTS PHYSIOTHERAPIST on the sidelines of the local hockey pitch. When having to rise to the occasion for what had just happened started to sink in. I’m an active sideliner, by that I mean I fillany injuries, it can be both exhilarating A moment that neither the athlete nor water bottles, mix Aqualyte/Powerade, and heart breaking. Some injuries can be myself will forget, it was truly a sombre walk the bottles out to the athletes as simple as a small cork/contusion where moment. around the field during training, organise the athletes are able to play on without towels in ice cold water slurry to cool any further damage but for others it can As for general sightseeing (as my friends the boys down (depending on current be tournament ending and perhaps the would say is all I do), it is usually along the temperature), collect balls and of course next tournament as well. As was recently road from the airport to the hotel and the rise to the occasion should an injury the case for one of our athletes. Whilst hotel to the hockey pitch and back, which occur. Post training or games, I have chasing an opponent he hyperextended all jokes aside can be quite interesting and organised protein shakes, foam rollers his leg and flexed his trunk in unison sometimes entertaining especially when and ice baths. Once back at the hotel causing his hamstring to pull right off the you are in a different country and have the boys are straight into the common/ bone. A sudden screech of pain followed motorcycle police escorts attempting to treatment room for debrief, video by collapsing to the ground grabbing his pave the way. On occasion team outings footage and treatment. leg. He had to be carried off and taken to are arranged depending on where you are the change room where the realisation of and whether the timetable permits which 32 VOLUME 36 • APRIL ISSUE 2018