Apr 2, 2020
Dr Loretta O'Sullivan-Pippia is a Specialist Sports & Exercise
Physiotherapist. Loretta established Twelve9teen Sports
Physiotherapy in 2009 - a practice dedicated to young athletes.
Academically, Loretta holds a Bachelor in Physiotherapy, a
Post-Graduate Diploma in Sports Physiotherapy and a Doctorate of
Clinical Physiotherapy. Her research at undergraduate level focused
on abdominal function; at post-graduate level on ankle injuries;
and at Doctoral level on knee cap pain in teenage girls. She has
lectured extensively in Australia and overseas on sports
rehabilitation, knee injuries and adolescents in sport.
Loretta has been working with sports teams and athletes since she
graduated in 1993. She has worked in a variety of sports
including rugby union, netball, track and field, swimming,
gymnastics, dance, hockey, football, tennis, along with many
others.
Her clients have ranged from school and club teams/athletes through
to international athletes, including Olympic gold medallists.
Many of the athletes Loretta worked with as junior athletes are now
competing in the NRL and Super Rugby competitions.
In this episode we cover;
- The importance of keeping active while sport is cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic
- The concept of tissue capacity and unloading
- Telehealth - an exciting and useful tool to help with injury management, athletic performance and coaching
- How telehealth will re-shape healthcare and sport
- The S.E.E.D.S. principles and how important they are to staying active, happy and engaged
- The opportunities that exist during this time to improve skills, physical capacity or address injuries
- If you have had a reconstruction and were facing a year out of sport - you have an opportunity to "catch up"
- Mental health of young athletes, coaches and parents - the importance of staying connected socially and using the resources around us.