There’s plenty of rugby action to get us through November.
As England goes back into lockdown for the whole of November, many of us will be feeling sad that we can't get out and play our regular team sports with our local club. We're still allowed (and encouraged) to exercise outside on our own and we can meet up with one other person (socially distanced of course) but unfortunately team play is on hold for now.
But there's lots to keep us entertained in November, especially for rugby fans. The Autumn Internationals rugby union competition is looking slightly different this year because of the pandemic. The newly devised Autumn Nations Cup will see 16 matches played across four weekends, running from Friday 13th November to Sunday 6th December. The usual teams involved in the Six Nations Championship (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales) will be joined by teams from Georgia and Fiji. These eight teams will be divided into two groups of four.
Women's rugby is looking exciting too. Only a few days ago the England Red Roses team secured back-to-back Women’s Six Nations Grand Slams with a 54-0 victory over Italy in Parma. As part of their Autumn Internationals, England will play France on Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 November.
One way to feel a bit better about not being able to play rugby with your mates is to think of it as an injury prevention strategy. A new study published in July this year examined the long-term impact of injuries that rugby players have received. They looked at the accumulative effects of injuries sustained by professional and amateur players and found that many of them continued to suffer from back pain and severe joint pain long after they retired from the sport. The style of play in rugby has changed over the years. It used to be about evading your opponent on the pitch, but now it's more about charging right through them. The game is faster and the players are bigger, which results in a potentially more damaging impact when players collide. This has seen a huge rise in concussion and back injuries that can have serious long-term effects if not treated properly.
This is not to say that you should just sit around watching rugby all day, inactivity can also lead to injury. There are plenty of exercises you can do at home to condition your body for when you are able to play again. Try these simple exercises for strengthening your back, demonstrated by Senior Physiotherapist Alex Diamond.
We’re still here for you during the November lockdown. Our Bank and Liverpool Street clinics are staying open, plus we now have a brand new Ultra Physio clinic in Hampstead. We are continually assessing our protocols to ensure your safety and ensure we are up to date with the latest guidelines to be able to treat you in person, but if you prefer an online consultation, we offer Video Call Appointments too.
Don't forget we can also tailor a strength and conditioning programme to suit your specific needs through one of our Biokinetic packages.
Call us on 0203 893 5100 or book an appointment online.