Expert senior doctor of PSG: "Footballers are damaged like marathon running Rugby players

[Out Foxed]

http://www.soccerissue.com/2014/02/21/inside-job/

 

Dr. Stephen Ben-Shoshan is a Senior muskulo-skeletal interventional radiologist, CT & MRI musculo – skeletal imaging diagnostic.

Did you stop reading? Because that’s what I would have done.

What does it mean?

Basically Ben-Shoshan uses MRIs and X-ray computed tomography to know exactly where’s the muscular or skeletal, damage is. He then injects medicine or Orthokine to the damaged area in the most accurate way.

NBA players such as LeBron James and Kobe Bryant used this procedure to recover from injuries quickly. Because I’m no doctor, you can read more about it here: CT Image-Guided Injection Techniques for Spinal Pain Management. See more about Orthokine treatment here: Orthokine Treatment Is Effective For Knee Arthritis.

Anyhow this is interesting for Soccerissue because, for the last 10 years Stephen Ben-Shoshan is the Paris Saint Germain expert doctor. Because he uses CTs and MRIs he literally knows players from the inside. He has the ability to observe their muscles, tendons and skeletal structure.

“Because of  the Orthokine treatment and accurate injections, I saw plenty of injured marathon runners and rugby players return to action quicklyâ€â€˜ Ben-Shoshan says. “We can now treat Arthritis and strains a lot better because we can see where’s the origin of the damage and accurately inject the medicine into the hurt area. I can look at the entire body form the inside and see exactly how and where the hurt area projects pains to other parts of the bodyâ€.

 

What do you see inside footballers?

“Footballers get injured more than other athletes. I’m treating tennis players with elbow and shoulder problems, I treat many Rugby players who have suffered from different traumas and also marathon runners with damaged feet and legs. However, footballers are completely worn-out. From the inside. Their cartilage is eroded and they have a lot of problems with their tendons and ligaments. Usually, a 35 year old player has the body, from the inside, of a 55 year old. He will need to have more surgical treatments from regular folks and suffer from Arthritis and related injuriesâ€.

 

Why is this happening?

“Today the footballers are so much muscular than a few years ago. They are so much stronger and tough. The game today is a lot faster and more difficult and you can see all that inside their bodies. The internal damage is immense. Their ligaments are worn-out, their cartilage is gone and they have more mechanical problems because of this – which leads to Arthritis. Orthokine injections help horses fight cartilage erosion but footballers are not horses.  A lot more research is needed to be done in this areaâ€.

 

Are they playing too many games per season?

“Yes, for sure. 60 games per season are too many games. The human body can’t handle that pressure. I see many feet and legs problems in marathon runners and many problems caused by trauma in Rugby. However, footballers seem to suffer from both problems. Traumas and erosion. Footballers are damaged like marathon running Rugby players. For them, at a young age at least, it doesn’t matter. They want to play as many games as possible. I, as a sports physician, need to fix them for the short term but I know the damage is long termâ€.

 

How many games are the ideal?

“I think that players can’t play more than 20-30 games per season and stay healthy. I think that the season shouldn’t be longer than that. You can’t play more than 30 games per season and stay healthy. 30 games per season should be the maximum. A player who plays more than 30 games per season will suffer from irreversible health problemsâ€.

[whitlock]

For the amount of money they get, I don't really care and I'm sure that the players don't really care either, because they wouldn't do it.

[Guest MattP]

Complete bollocks, look at all the old ex-footballers around the age of 55-60 odd. Far fitter than most people.

 

He just wants to work less.

[Fox92]

You'd think football never existed when people talk rubbish like this. Good job the likes of Bobby Moore and Bobby Charlton were never rested. Players used to have jobs alongside football, and how old was Stanley Matthews when he finally retired!?

[foxes_rule1978]

Can't see this being true, the body strengthens dramatically when pushed, the muscles and bones become a lot stronger so are able to cope with the physical aspect of the game. From a young age they are pushed over the limits and this allows their bodies to be able to compete at such a level.

[Manwell Pablo]

I can tell you lot have never played 40 games a season. I can tell by the state my body that the average Pro is going to have ache's and pains for the rest of his life. What he's saying is in principle true. Playing football fuks your lower body up big time. 

 

The Health problems are hardly life threatening though, more an inconvenience, all part of the game

[Haydos]

Can't see this being true, the body strengthens dramatically when pushed, the muscles and bones become a lot stronger so are able to cope with the physical aspect of the game. From a young age they are pushed over the limits and this allows their bodies to be able to compete at such a level.

 

Is this satire?

[Guest MattP]

I can tell you lot have never played 40 games a season. I can tell by the state my body that the average Pro is going to have ache's and pains for the rest of his life. What he's saying is in principle true. Playing football fuks your lower body up big time.

The Health problems are hardly life threatening though, more an inconvenience, all part of the game

40?

When I was 18 I played for three teams, played 90 mins sat, sun and midweek at times.

Compare the fitness and health of footballers in later years to boxers, fast bowlers, rugby players or American footballers and I'm struggling to find too much sympathy.

I can barely think of a player actually who has serious physicalinjuries or health from the game?

[Out Foxed]

Can't see this being true, the body strengthens dramatically when pushed, the muscles and bones become a lot stronger so are able to cope with the physical aspect of the game. From a young age they are pushed over the limits and this allows their bodies to be able to compete at such a level.

and tendons and cartilage?

[foxes_rule1978]

and tendons and cartilage?

Indeed that is true, they would deteriorate overtime, and certainly wouldn't improve. I was probably a bit too quick to post my original response...

[Frost]

Not sure how people are comparing their own fitness to a professional footballer's.

 

Is that really what I've just read?

 

Have you seen the pace and demands of the Premier League? Its absolutely absurd. 

 

[Finnaldo]

Complete bollocks, look at all the old ex-footballers around the age of 55-60 odd. Far fitter than most people.

He just wants to work less.

He does make the point in the article that its more based on the modern game and it's pace that's changed since previous generations. Is was a more slower games for those 55-60 year olds.

[Stadt]

These players train and play at extreme intensity, their cartilage and tendons will deteriorate.

Players didn't play 60 games a season in the 50s.

Friendlies, League, FA Cup, League Cup, European competition, international qualifying and friendlies.

A doctor that deals with players everyday and knows the condition of top level athletes knows more than any of us.

[Donut]

Its the views of an expert senior physio, but because it doesnt fit our notion of footballers get paid loads blah blah no one wants to listen to his expert opinion.

 

Im pretty sure what you know about sports science and injuries can be written on a postage stamp, and this guy is an expert for a huge club.

[Guest MattP]

It's the view of one physio.

The ones at Real Madrid say the opposite, pick which one you want to believe.

[Charl91]

With the intensity and competitiveness of the modern game, I'm inclined to agree with him.

[LC/FC]

It's the view of one physio.

The ones at Real Madrid say the opposite, pick which one you want to believe.

Yeah I'd listen to the Real Madrid physios... who passed Jonathan Woodgate's medical...