Transfer deadline day medical - what does that actually mean?

Transfer deadline day is looming and player medicals become a hot topic as the media activity reaches fever pitch.

With the help of the expert team at Perform at St. George's Park, the National Football Centre, we take a look at what a medical actually involves.

The pressure to complete medicals on players whilst managing a full squad and full fixture list (with midweek fixtures in the final week, which always seems to be the case) is a challenge for all medical department however well-staffed you may be.

The importance of a pre signing medical cannot be underestimated. It is not purely a pass or fail exercise, but rather an opportunity to gather essential information on a player, which is likely to build the players preventative rehabilitation programme around it.

It is very rare in professional football that you get 6-8 hours with one player, so this is the perfect opportunity to gather such information while you can.

Perform, part of Spire Health Care are now offering this service to all clubs. The pre signing medical will be bespoke to the needs of the club. It can be a simple as providing MRI and Echo/ECG for the player or a more comprehensive package could include some of the following.

All services can usually be put together within 24 hours and 7 days a week nationwide using any of our 38 hospitals nationwide. All services will provide an immediate verbal report followed by full comprehensive reporting within 24-48 hours.

SEM Doctor

• Review of previous medical notes
• Review of current medical health
• Orthopaedic and health screen
• Bloods
• Urine
• Other services available at request

Physiotherapy

• Movement screen
• Comprehensive orthopaedic screen
• Functional assessment

Sport Science

• Balance assessment (Y Balance / Biodex postural sway
• Power assessment (isokinetics / jump testing)
• Other services available at request

Additional Services

• Echo / ECG
• Multi-site MRI
• CT / X ray

These packages can be put together to suit the needs of the club and will be managed from start to finish.

From one initial phone call to Perform at St George's Park the Perform team will manage the whole day from start to finish. This is to include the transfers to and from all hospitals, all investigations, lunch for players, club staff and agents and reporting.

Clubs can also be assured of confidentiality we will ensure players are brought in and leave facilities discretely.

For more information go to http://www.spirehealthcare.com/perform/perform-at-st-georges-park