ROLE OF THE PHYSICAL PREPARER IN THE VOLLEYBALL
In modern volleyball the physical trainer can no longer limit himself to simply doing his job. Instead it must be an essential reference point for a whole system of relationships and interactions (with coach, doctor, physiotherapist, etc.).
The physical trainer must have knowledge of:
b) specific functional assessment;
c) specific prevention (not only proposal of exercises performed correctly, but also evaluation of the solicitations and protection of the athlete in carrying out the activity).
d) specific rehabilitation (knowledge that can make it able to help, but not replace, both the physiotherapist and the coach even with direct interventions in the field).
Team Staff:
physical trainer
medical physiotherapist
2nd coach
1st coach
FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT TEAM OF THE PALLAVOLISTA
PHYSIOTHERAPIST
medical history
joint function
support and trim in an orthostatic position (presence of orthotics)
osteopathy evaluation
PREPARER
a) physical history
b) postural evaluation
c) muscle tension
d) body composition
e) joint flexibility and mobility
Physical history
Age (date of birth).
General anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, reach).
Specific circumferences (arm, upper-middle-lower thigh, calf).
Training habits (player's athletic experience).
Past injuries (acute and chronic problems).
Postural evaluation
Presence of kyphotic attitude (widespread in high players).
Scoliosis and muscular deficits between the right and left parts of the body.
Lumbar and ischio-crural tension (difficulty in torso flexion).
Correct power position (open shoulders, contracted paravertebral, center of gravity on the supports).
Muscular tensions
Unbalanced training contents can lead to an imbalance between functionally connected muscle districts, causing retractions and consequent muscular imbalances.
Any tensions must therefore be identified and eliminated quickly, analyzing the posture and symmetry of:
- head, shoulders, spine, pelvis and ankles (positioning behind the subject).
- cervical rachis, dorsal rachis, lumbar spine and abdomen (positioning to the side with respect to the subject).
Body composition
A fat athlete is not an athlete!
With a simple plicometry it is possible to constantly monitor (every 6 weeks) the balance between fat mass and lean mass.
I personally use eight folds (biceps, triceps, pectoral, subscapularis, axillary middle, iliac crest, abdominal, anterior thigh), developing them in two formulas (Jackson & Pollock with seven folds, Durnin with four folds) and calculating the average between them.
Evaluation of flexibility
Functionality is associated with reading the athlete's posture. For this it is necessary, especially with younger athletes, to draw up a flexibility profile through three simple joint mobility tests:
- Sit and reach (figure of Kendall)
- Squat test (various positions)
- Back rom test (sitting and supine)
THREE BASIC CONCEPTS
PREVENTION
Prevention means developing a system of physical work that prevents damage to the structures most stressed by technical training. Doing it right means reducing the risk and severity of injuries.
COMPENSATION
To compensate means to re-establish a situation of equilibrium (in particular muscle) where specific technical gestures tend to alter it. Doing it well means limiting muscle imbalances.
REHABILITATION
Rehabilitation means bringing the athlete back to normal and complete sporting efficiency. Doing it well means avoiding the danger of recurrence.
THE FACTORS OF PREVENTION
EXTERNAL
Footwear used
State of the field of play and training
Environmental conditions (temperature, humidity)
Role and competitive level of the athlete
INTERNAL
Recovery, integration and regeneration
Heating and cool-down
Workloads
Emotional stress
Training planning
Muscle balance
CONCEPTS SPORTS REHABILITATION GUIDE
1) Reduction of the acute phase (inflammation etc.).
2) Recovery of movement (articulation, correct walking, etc.).
3) Recovery of strength and muscular endurance.
4) Recovery of coordination and balance.
5) Recovery of sports skills and specific athletic gesture.
Practical aspects of sports rehabilitation
Identify in which of the previously described phases (not isolated but interconnected) is the injured athlete.
Determine the daily work load that the athlete can sustain, so as to avoid overloading or underloading.
To clarify to the athlete the difference between biological healing and functional recovery, where by functional recovery we mean the recovery of the full technical-coordinative capacity of the gesture, of the full maximal competitive potential and of the full potential of mental finalization on the race task.
Set up a preventive maintenance program after completing the return to competitive activity.
Working closely with physiotherapist, doctor and coach.
Phases of rehabilitation
1) Outpatient rehabilitation psychological support and setting of physical therapies, manuals, postural etc.
2) Rehabilitation in the water: articulation, preparatory exercises for walking, toning and muscle strengthening performed in a protective environment.
3) Rehabilitation in the gym:
functional assessment test, general toning, gait recovery, aerobic work, proprioceptive exercises.
4) Rehabilitation in the field:
specific toning, coordination and dexterity programs.
PLEASE NOTE (1)
Specific sports gestures tend to create imbalances in the muscles.
These imbalances, if not adequately compensated, lead to retractions that bring the joint heads closer and consequently determine a predisposition to joint pain.
Some muscles have a tendency to weaken and shorten, others only to weaken.
The right compensation of the sporting gesture becomes therefore the first form of prevention of the sportsman.
PLEASE NOTE (2)
In the analysis of the sporting gesture the single muscular district is not evaluated, but the movement of the entire kinetic chain. This is why the solution to a physical problem can sometimes be found far from the sore point.
Shoulder pains: ilio-psoas retraction.
Inguinal insertion pains: retraction of the hip flexors, which leads to a forward displacement of the pelvis which in turn leads to a shortening of the adductors.
Back pain (lumbar area): hip flexor retraction and ischiocrural rigidity, factors that lead to hyperlordosis. Weakness of abdominals and buttocks.
Knee pains: retraction of the femoral rectum and imbalances between the flexors and extensors of the leg.
PREVENTION AND COMPENSATION EXERCISES IN VOLLEYBALL
Trunk and upper limbs (1st part)
Abdominals (rectum and obliques)
Spinal (dorsal, lumbar)
Posture lumbar spine relief and ischiocrural
Traction + rower (ercolina)
Throw yourself prone
Low pulley (pull on shoulders and arms)
Back post rear (prone decubitus, dumbbells)
Shoulder rotation (dumbbells, arms outstretched)
Lat machine pulled to the chest (reverse grip)
Trunk and upper limbs (2nd part)
Extra-rotating Ercolina (short lever, ball under the arm)
External rotation with handlebar (lateral decubitus, short lever)
Extra-rotary routine (light weight exercises)
Shoulder routine (elastic)
Lateral risers (handlebars)
Raise forward palm down (handlebars)
Dumbbell baseball exercise
Lower limbs (1st part)
Monopodalic isometric leg extension (last degrees, 6 "work + 1" rec.)
Eccentric monopodalic leg extension
1/3 isometric squat (6 "work + 2" rec.)
Monolodal eccentric leg curl (assisted)
Monopodalic eccentric leg press
Folded monopodalic step
Split squats (multipower, dumbbells)
Sissy squat (2 dumbbells on the wall)
Lower limbs (2nd part)
Frontal alternating lunges (barbell, dumbbells)
Alternating side lunges (barbell, dumbbells)
Box squat (deep corner, with stop)
Dynamic parallel squat with medicine ball held between the knees
Sitting calf (slow eccentric phase)
Exercises of proprioception (back, ankle, knee)
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Edited by: Lorenzo Boscariol
