Canada
Australia
03 9824 8001
Planes, buses, fast trains, hire cars; there are many modes of transport when you’re working around the globe caring for elite athletes. The demands of the work can stretch far beyond your job description and sometimes require a translator. Being flexible and adaptable is essential if you want to be successful.
Having travelled internationally for over a decade, Ace Sports Clinic’s own Luke Fuller has treated on every continent, except Antarctica, in his role as Sports Osteopath and Physiotherapist for professional tennis players, golfers, celebrities and endurance athletes like Ironman.
Travel always provides us with unique experiences and opportunities to expand our horizons and develop our craft.
In this blog, Luke shares his top five travel tips for working with high-performance teams and athletes.
Be Prepared
There are many times when you won’t know exactly where your hotel is, let alone where to find massage cream, exercise equipment or a treatment table. It is important to be prepared and have a list of everything that you may need on your travels. Being prepared also shows your athletes that you have thought of every scenario and have their backs, which helps build instant trust. I go through my treatment bag twice before I leave home, once 2 weeks before my trip and then again, the night before I leave. Reviewing 2 weeks prior allows me to order any supplies I may be short on and ensure I have them ready for my athletes on the trip.
Ask Questions
Asking better questions leads to better answers. Finding out a detailed history of an injury is obviously important, but asking questions to get to know your athletes is critical to understanding how you can best help them, their pain tolerances and treatment or exercise preferences. What has worked for them in the past? Athletes often know their bodies better than anyone else and are a valuable source of information to aid in your diagnosis and treatment. As you progress through the game or tournament, you develop a good understanding of what’s working for your athlete. Getting to know them on a personal level through inquiry and conversation helps build rapport – remember, elite performance isn’t just affected by our physical well-being but also our mental state & other issues that could be happening in a person’s life.
Get to know the local support staff
Many times, you’re working with local support staff, which may include a local Doctor, Massage Therapist or Physio. Building a good relationship with the local team helps enormously as often they will be your guide to sourcing further investigations like MRIs, X-rays and blood tests. You may also need to work with them later, so being friendly only helps. Your athlete may request something else to complement your treatments, such as Hydrotherapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or Floatation therapy. Often, the local support staff will have a preferred provider or location they trust, which can help you get a booking fast and conveniently.
Be Flexible
Flexibility allows you to adapt or change direction when you have a missed connection or something doesn’t go to plan. Your coach or athlete may decide on a change of time or venue to train, or you may find yourself with a longer day than anticipated due to a rain delay or extended match. A recent example of the importance of flexibility I had involved an extended day of travel because my player had been injured in a match as I started my journey. I’d planned to fly from Melbourne to Mallorca for a tournament there. I travelled via Hong Kong and Zurich to arrive in Mallorca on what had already been a long flight. On arrival to Mallorca, I discovered my treatment table was still in transit and that I’d be boarding another flight in 3 hours to go to see a Sports Doctor in Belgrade for 3 days to help my athlete recover in time for Wimbledon! We’d be doing treatment around the clock as there was only a short window of days to be ready to perform on the biggest sporting stage.
Develop your Cultural Competence
Learn some simple words so you can converse and connect with the locals in their language. The local customs and culture may be very different to what you’re used to, so learn some basics in advance to help you become comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. Different cultures have unique perspectives on pain, injury recovery time and certain treatment modes like injections. What is accepted as a ‘light’ treatment for one person, could be a ‘strong’ treatment for another. Some athletes may have a personal preference for a stretching warm-up, while others may prefer a good cardiovascular movement-based warm-up and leave stretching until last for recovery. This could simply depend on what they have been brought up doing, regardless of any scientific evidence, so we need to respect this to get the best results with our athletes.
If you’re lucky enough to combine travel with your work or pleasure, fully immerse yourself in where you are. Learn about the local customs and culture. Try out new foods. Head off the beaten track and get outside your comfort zone to uncover hidden gems and places not always popularised by tourists. Have a sense of wonder and curiosity to be open to all possibilities presented to you. Above everything else, enjoy yourself and use each voyage to open your mind and practice tolerance, understanding and respect for every person and nation. This way, you’ll know you’re at your best and ready to deliver exceptional service and care for your clients.