The Lithuanian men’s basketball team is intensively preparing for the upcoming European Basketball Championship qualifiers games against the Czech and Danish national teams. The team’s physiotherapists and masseurs also work intensively before and after the practice, helping to prepare for physical activity, performing injury prevention and massages.
Laimonas Šiupšinkas, a physiotherapist of the Lithuanian men’s basketball team, can do a ultrasound check simply in the hotel’s room.
„Now we are doing joint ultrasound check, which shows what the tissues look like and it helps us to evaluate the areas where the pain symptoms are felt. The whole strategy of treatment and action depends on it and it is extremely important. With us we have apparatus that is in every hospital, those new technologies allow us to diagnose things simply in the hotel room. Such things greatly improves diagnostic capabilities and it is very important that we have an access to those innovations. So we are very grateful to the “Phillips” who provided us this equipment”, – elaborated Laimonas Šiupšinkas.
Men’s basketball team medical equipment is used for injury diagnosis, treatment of small injuries, recovery after practises. During all training camps and trips, one or more hotel rooms are reserved for medical purposes. There are massage tables and modern wireless electrotherapy devices: Compex, Bemer. Mattress used for magnetotherapy to stimulate blood circulation, lymphatic drainage used for the Normatec device, which is popular among the world’s elite athletes.
„I already know most of the equipment since it is not my first time here. The most important part after a practice is to relax sore muscles. In the national team this is the highest level. I don’t miss anything here and I discover something new every time I come. All you have to do is take care of yourself and enjoy the procedures. Procedure takes around 20 minutes while it is icing knee. Mostly during these procedures I talk to people that are around, but this time I am alone in the room so just scrolling through social media”, – said Arnas Butkevičius.
A lot of work is also done in the players’ locker room, where the ankles are taped to protect the joints from the most common basketball injury – strain of the ankle ligaments, as well as the players perform specialized exercises for problematic areas of the body before the general warm-up. Special sports supplements and drinks are also supplied during practices and games.
„Our most important task – a healthy player who is ready to perform at his best,” – added L. Šiupšinskas.
