Chapter 3 - Has Graeme got talent?!

Well Hockey has started and you may have seen me at the first game- always bad news for someone. I always had the reputation - "not on my shift" in rugby but first game of Olympics blows that. Had 4 hours sleep on Sunday night sorting things out but hopefully there will be a happy ending.

The village is full now; even the Yanks are here - but no GBR athletics yet! Breakfast with Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy is commonplace. No sign of USB yet!  We did however have the Queen visit the Hockey accommodation with Prince Philip and Princess Anne. Sadly my Royal appointment will have to wait as her visit coincided with the Hockey Medical meeting so I missed it.

Wasn’t the Opening Ceremony Fab?! Having expected to watch it on TV from the village, we unexpectedly received the call-up to go and be in the audience - in some ways a better deal than the marching athletes who wait around until 10pm to meet and then waited 2 hours before coming in for the speeches!.

It was as good as it looked. We were behind Mr Bean and right next to Arctic Monkeys / Paul McCartney.  A few celebs came to meet me as picture three demonstrates.  Odd really, I was in Team GB gear and so she was interested in us as the centre of attention. I won’t disclose what she whispered in my ear when she found out I was a Doctor - not at least here!

PS on the team photo I am the parrot!

Dr Graeme Wilkes

MB BS MRCP MRCGP MSc FFSEM
Clinical Lead
Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine
Connect Physical Health

Chapter 2 - The 'Doc' report - Olympic Village: High quality H2O

Source: www.listal.com

High quality H20
I have been in the olympic village for a few days now and I am now finding my way around. It is becoming busier with more athletes arriving by the hour. We had the GB Official welcome ceremony which I think was broadcast live. I was stood next to Andy Murray 3 weeks after watching him on Centre Court at Wimbledon! Tom Daley is in my block so see him around a lot. Met up with Andrew Sullivan, the GB Basketball captain who I know from his Newcastle Eagles days.

Hockey guys and gals are a good bunch, they have each had a practice match versus New Zealand and the Women have a game tomorrow vs. Germany, again a practice. My main job is filling their water bottles - it’s not all glamorous!

It has been so hot - 31 degrees for the girl’s game. Lots of water-bottle filling! Attached is a picture of the village - very smart and well kept. All the athletes love it. There are street stalls all around with various foods and drinks - all free! It would be very easy to put on many pounds!! Pictures included are of the central area of the village and the hockey stadium - my home for 2 weeks.

I managed to sweet talk my way into the last 30 minutes of the full dress rehearsal for the Opening Ceremony last night - 80,000 people were there - they invited volunteers who weren’t chosen to work. It was amazing, I have pictures but everyone has promised not to send out.

The first hockey mnatch is on Sunday, GB Women vs Japan at 7pm - watch it on the red button!

Dr Graeme Wilkes
MB BS MRCP MRCGP MSc FFSEM
Clinical Lead
Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine
Connect Physical Health

Day 1 – The ‘Doc’ report from the Olympic Village. London 2012

Our Clinical Lead, Dr Graeme Wilkes was selected as the GB Hockey Doctor. Graeme will be sending us updates and photos of life at the Olympics.

A room with a view

As I wake up and look out of the window, there is the Olympic stadium in all its glory.  I arrived yesterday with the GB Men; The GB Ladies come back in today having had three days here last week. The Athlete village is awesome, with the sunny weather you could be anywhere in the world.

My first visit to the Dining Hall was an experience. It takes a full 3 minutes to walk end to end and it’s a square! MacDonald’s in the corner which is free but no chips!!

Picture of view from our apartment attached. The GB Headquarters is naturally placed with best outlook. We have unique access to our own Performance Centre/ Medical Quarters which is huge - no other nation will have such a facility - another advantage of home nation.

Today there are three training sessions and I will get my first experience of the Hockey stadium with its pink and blue pitch!

Can’t wait!!!!

Dr Graeme Wilkes
MB BS MRCP MRCGP MSc FFSEM
Clinical Lead
Consultant in Sports & Exercise Medicine
Connect Physical Health

NEW facilities - Durham Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic

NEW £6.7m Facilities @ Maiden Castle – Home to our Durham Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic!

Location: Graham Sports Centre, Maiden Castle. Durham. DH1 3SE

Call 0191 491 1808

Open to the Public and Students

Originally opened in 1997 by Kenny Dalglish, the Manager of Newcastle United FC at the time, our Durham clinic is located within the Graham Sports Centre at Maiden Castle, on the Southern edge of Durham city.  The University owned Graham Sports Centre has recently undergone a major transformation following a £6.7 million investment.  The brand new facilities in the Graham’s Sport Centre were officially opened by the Minister for Sport and the Olympics, Hugh Robertson, MP, on Tuesday 21st February 2012.

Connect’s Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic is accommodated in 3 state of the art individual treatment rooms and our clinicians also have access to the excellent rehab facilities and gym, making it the leading sports injury and physio clinic in Durham.  Please contact our friendly, knowledgeable reception team to discuss how our chartered physiotherapists and clinical specialists can help with all your Durham physio needs!

Services include:

·        Physiotherapy (All musculoskeletal conditions – all ages & levels!)

·        Sports Injury

·        Acupuncture

·        Kinesio Taping

·        Injection therapy

·        Rehabilitation

·        Deep Tissues Sports Massage

·        Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage

·        Podiatry

·        Core Stability Classes

Call 0191 491 1808
Visit the 'Clinics' page on our website to register for £5 discount of your initial physioterapy appointment: www.connectphc.co.uk/clinics

(View a video of the new facilities via our website blog page - PhysioTube)

MSK (Musculoskeletal) Evening Seminar - Cervical Spine Assessment

MSK (Musculoskeletal) Evening Seminar: CERVICAL SPINE ASSESSMENT: ‘An Evidence Based Approach’

Topics include:

• Cervical Artery/VBI
• Upper Cervical Instability
• Cervical Nerve Root Impingement
• Cervical Facet Joint Pathology

Date:Tuesday 21^st August 2012

Time:6.00pm – 9.00pm (refreshments provided)

Venue:Trinity Church (Opposite Connect Clinic). High Street, Gosforth. Newcastle. NE3 4AG

Speaker:

Alex Seward, Clinical Specialist in Physiotherapy. Connect Physical Health

Cost: £30 payable at time of booking.

Places are strictly limited to 15 due to the practical nature of the seminar.

To book: Contact Vera Nichol on 0191 213 5116 or via email vera.nichol@connectphc.co.uk

ESP MSK (Musculoskeletal) Interest Group

Connect are pleased to announce the details of our MSK Interest Group tailored specifically to the needs of ESPs or Clinical Specialists.

MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC ANKLE INSTABILITY

·       To understand differential diagnosis of pathology that can arise as a result of “inversion injury”

·       To recognise when to refer an acute ankle sprain for an X-ray or to Trauma Orthopaedics for suspected fracture based on knowledge of Ottawa Rules

·       To gain greater insight into when to escalate patients care and when/what to image if not making adequate progress after ankle sprain

·       To understand predisposing factors of patients who develop CAI and neuromuscular factors associated with ankle instability recurrence

·      To encourage re-evaluation of rehabilitation of first time ankle sprains and CAI patients to reflect research into physiotherapy practice

·       To understand the different surgical options

Date:
Tuesday 31^st July 2012

Time:

6.30pm – 8.00pm (refreshments provided)

Venue:

Trinity Church (Opposite Connect Clinic) High Street, Gosforth. Newcastle. NE3 4AG

Speakers:

Mr David Townshend, FRCS (Orth) Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon. Northumbria NHS

Health Care Trust.

Aimee Robson, MSc, MCSP, Clinical Manager, Connect Physical Health

Cost:

£10.00 (payable at time of booking)

To book:

Contact Vera Nichol on 0191 213 5116 or via email vera.nichol@connectphc.co.uk