Thursday 25th February 2010

Withdrawal of Physiotherapy cover will have detrimental effect on injury recovery time, return to match fitness and return to work

The Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) has today voiced their concerns that the recent decision by the GAA to limit Physiotherapy reimbursements as part of its player injury scheme will have a negative effect on player health and welfare. The scheme had, in the view of ISCP, erroneously reimbursed many treatment disciplines under the overarching ‘Physiotherapy' category, not solely those provided by medically recognised Chartered Physiotherapists.

The ISCP accepts that the GAA, as a private organisation, is forced to make key decisions affecting budgets in order to address costs in these recessionary times. However, early Physiotherapy intervention in the diagnosis, treatment and management of injuries is a cost-saving as Physiotherapy aids players make a prompt recovery and facilitates not only the return to sports activity, but also a speedy return to everyday tasks including work.  

ISCP President, Annette Shanahan, said, "This is going to have a huge negative impact on players and their welfare. Firstly, any delay in seeking suitable assessment and treatment will have a detrimental effect on injury recovery time, delaying the player's return to match fitness and potentially will impact adversely on likely injury recurrence."

The GAA Insurance scheme withdrawal of existing physiotherapy cover for treatment from fully qualified practitioners, Chartered Physiotherapists, may now encourage players to access their own treatment from other sources, potentially from non-qualified, non-registered practitioners. "There are serious patient safety implications from this very regrettable development," she said.

"Secondly, the inclusion of only post operative physiotherapy promotes the option of surgery over the avoidance of surgery." The ISCP maintain that current evidence-based sports medicine research emphasises that surgery is the last option in the management of the vast majority of sports injuries. "International sports medicine best practice strongly supports the finding that in the vast majority of injuries, all non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation measures such as Physiotherapy, should be exhausted prior to the final option of surgery."

"The GAA suggest that Physiotherapy will still be funded by the individual clubs. This will be hit and miss, depending on the finances of the smaller clubs already operating on limited budgets or those compromised by having a high proportion of injured players. As our economy declines and we are faced with increasing unemployment, some players and parents will be unable to afford to supplement Physiotherapy treatment, if not covered by insurance. Physiotherapy is critical in injuries of the young population to decrease the risk of injury recurrence and prevent their failure to resume sport in the future. The personal and wider social implications of removal of this necessary facility are enormous.

"The majority of injuries sustained in Gaelic sports are non-surgical in nature, but do require professional attention to ensure recovery. The GAA should be applauded for currently undertaking prospective studies to evaluate the factors affecting GAA injuries, in an effort to improve player welfare. However the recent decision to cut Physiotherapy cover is in direct conflict with their stated aim of improving player welfare. ISCP strongly recommend that the GAA reconsider the withdrawal of Physiotherapy treatment cover, for services provided by appropriately qualified practitioners, from the insurance scheme to ensure player welfare is optimised. Chartered Physiotherapists are the gold standard practitioner for all Physiotherapy and Physical Therapy in Ireland and hold world recognised qualifications. As with GAA medical practitioners, the necessary and appropriate qualifications should be demanded by all seeking to retain Physiotherapy services for their GAA teams.

"The provision of appropriate welfare is essential for all players of all grades and abilities, which must be administered and managed effectively so that treatment given is of the highest standard and always appropriate for the injury sustained. The ISCP are concerned that this decision, which is fundamentally a player welfare and medical decision, was made without any medical input. Player welfare is critical in all this as all members of the GAA Medical Scientific & Welfare Committee (MSWC) themselves will attest." Ms Shanahan stated.

ENDS