Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when a student-athlete gets injured?
What do I do when a student-athlete sustains an injury?
· Seek appropriate medical treatment as soon as possible.
· If possible, please take a Health Professional Report Form to be completed or ask for a copy of any relevant information so you can update your Rehabilitation Coordinator as soon as possible
Who do I contact at MSA when a student-athlete sustains an injury
· Please inform the appropriate Rehabilitation Coordinator as soon as possible, whether you are seeking treatment from the MSA Physiotherapist or an External Health Practitioner
· If possible, catch up with your Rehab Coordinator at school at the first opportunity - before or after school, lunchtime, or recess.
· An email could also be sent, especially if the injury happened over the weekend, during weekend sport.
· It is not ideal for the student-athlete to inform the rehabilitation co-ordinator just before or during HPP classes. This does not provide sufficient time for alternate programming.
· Please see Home Page for the year level of Rehabilitation Coordinators
How do I make an appointment with the MSA Physiotherapist?
· Easy, just communicate (email/in person) with your Rehabilitation Coordinator and they can make an appointment for you.
When are the MSA physiotherapy appointments available?
· During the double period HPP classes for Year 7, 8, 9 & 10
· On selected days before and after school, recess, and lunchtime for senior students (year 11 & 12)
Where do the MSA physiotherapy appointments take place?
· The physiotherapy appointments take place in the Rehabilitation/Physiotherapy Office which is inside Gym 5 in the back corner.
Do I have to pay for the physiotherapy services at MSA?
· No - Physiotherapy appointments held at school are part of the student-athletes scholarship and are free of charge.
· If further treatment outside the school physiotherapy services is recommended (e.g., hands on treatment, scans) these will be at a cost to the student-athlete
How do the physiotherapy services at MSA differ from physiotherapy services outside of school?
· MSA physiotherapy appointments are likely to be shorter in length, generally 10-15mins (15mins for a new injury, 10mins for a review of the injury)
· MSA physio appointments are for the purpose of assessment and where possible diagnosis, to develop a rehabilitation plan for the student-athlete, to ensure a safe and efficient return to play.
· MSA physio appointments do not generally involve hands on treatment, other than for the purposes of further assessment
Who is the MSA Physiotherapist?
· Sara Hasani, an APA Titled Sport & Exercise Physiotherapist. Sara joined MSA in late 2023 having spent the previous 8 years at the Western Bulldogs. Sara comes with a wealth of elite sport experience as well as clinical leadership and a strong interest in adolescent sporting populations.
Can I see an External Health Professional?
· Absolutely - you are more than welcome to see another practitioner at Back in Motion or your own external health practitioner
· We do however ask that you please take our Health Professional Report Form with you so we can be fully informed regarding the student-athletes injury and Rehabilitation Plan (restrictions, rehabilitation program, other)
· This information is vital so staff (Rehabilitation Coordinator & all Coaches) can be informed and make appropriate modifications to programs & training
How often should my injury be reviewed?
· This will be guided by your Health Practitioner (MSA Physio or External Health Practitioner)
Training with an Injury and Returning to Play
Can I continue to train when injured?
· Yes - we encourage training of some form for most injuries, but clear guidelines will be recommended by your Health Practitioner, based on your injury.
· The MSA Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy Team will provide each student-athlete with a clear plan regarding what training and rehabilitation is appropriate for their current injury.
· If the student-athlete is seeing an External Health Practitioner, we ask that they provide a clear plan to the student-athlete or provide enough information to the Rehabilitation Coordinator so an appropriate plan can be created for the student-athlete
What happens if I cannot participate in High Performance Coaching
· If you cannot participate in High Performance Coaching, make sure you inform your coach.
· In consultation with your Rehabilitation Coordinator, your High-Performance Coach may be able to offer some alternate training drills
· If you cannot participate in High Performance Coaching, you should be going to the Gym to complete your Rehabilitation Program during High Performance Coaching
When can I return to play
· It is recommended you return to play when the MSA Rehabilitation & Physiotherapy Team or your External Health Practitioner has deemed it OKfor your to do so
· If you are seeing an External Healthcare Provider, it is imperative you provide formal information to your Rehabilitation Coordinator in writing, so they can update your injury management profile.
· This may be via a Health Professional Report Form, other written documentation, or an email to your Rehabilitation Coordinator
Can I stop my rehabilitation once the pain has gone away?
· Being pain free is a vital step in managing an injury, but that is not the end of the rehabilitation process.
· It is important to return the injured area, as well as the whole body to its pre-injury state and beyond.
· To minimise the risk of recurrence of the same injury and other related injuries, it is recommended to build additional strength resilience. This will also increase performance levels. Resilience programs will be provided by your Rehabilitation Coordinator in collaboration with your Strength & Conditioning Coach.