Doc MacLean

As transfer season continues apace, what’s in a medical?

AFTER the excitement of a sporting summer which included the World Cup, Wimbledon, the Open Championship and the European Championships in Glasgow, it is business as usual with last week’s start of the football league season. Add to this the early European matches and League Cup games and it has been a busy start for players, coaches and supporters alike.

For managers it is important to sign the right players, not just those who will make the team better, but those whose fitness and injury status means that they will play the majority of matches.

This period is therefore one of the busiest for football clubs around the country. As a result, especially at our bigger clubs, the busiest people at a football club are often the medical staff. Managers and coaches hope to complete the deal for that final piece of the jigsaw, which will ensure a successful season. For the player there is the worry that an undiagnosed medical problem may be uncovered which could ruin their dream move and possible financial security. Most players, however, nowadays accept that the medical is an essential part of the process of joining a new club and most go through without a hitch.

So what’s the inside story of a player’s medical? This week we will look at the background information and pre- medical planning that is required and next week I’ll discuss what actually happens during the medical itself.

With big- name transfers, the buying club’s full medical team will be involved in the player’s assessment which can take all day to complete. Smaller clubs with less staff and more limited finances usually rely on the club physio and doctor alone to carry out the examination.

When a player arrives for their medical they will be asked about family history ( for a history of heart disease or conditions such as diabetes), past illnesses and previous injuries, especially knee injuries or those which have required surgery. Club staff may have built up a picture of potential players including number of games played, previous injuries, and time lost during recovery. This may be complicated if the player arrives from abroad. The internet is useful as details of previous serious injury can easily be sourced. After this it is a question of the medical team getting the okay from the manager and finally meeting the player.

With the vital background information gathered it is time to get on with the examination and testing part of the medical, which I will outline next week.

Contact Hampden Sports Clinic on 0141 616 6161 or visit hampdensportsclinic. com

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