These are unusual times at Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Youth Academy where work continues under the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus outbreak, and most contact is via smartphone apps and computer. For physio Ben Mor, who heads the medical department and is used to getting up close and personal with the players, this is a 
situation that is as foreign to him as anybody.
Mor specialises in rehabilitating athletes after injury and he manages the medical team at the Youth Academy. He administers first aid to players on the pitch and later oversees their recovery from injury, including players recuperating after operations. He is also in charge of instilling a healthy lifestyle among the players to try to lower the risk of future injuries.
Mor also works at a private clinic that specialises in assisting athletes recovering from injury and he lectures on physiotherapy at Wingate Institute.
“These days are characterized by uncertainty and the day-to-day life we appreciate so much has been completely disrupted. Physiotherapy, which demands close physical contact between the player and the carer, is impossible. Of course, the most important thing is to halt the coronavirus outbreak and to maintain the health of the players and all of us, so we have no choice and hope we can get back to business as usual as soon as possible,” Mor said.
The medical department that includes two physiotherapists, two medics and Mor at the helm, have had to make do with monitoring the players’ conditioning and recovery from injury from afar. They keep abreast of the players’ emotional state and their health through video contact and instruct them on what stretching, balance, movement and 
strength building exercises they need to work on.
The players capture video of themselves doing the exercises and the medical team can then advise what adjustments they need to make.
“It is certainly not ideal, but we do see an improvement among those who were injured before the pandemic, so we are certain we are having an effect,” Mor said.
“For the younger players, this is a confusing time but it will pass. We need to utilise the time to work on weak points, such as ankle sprains to which some players are more prone than others and this is an opportunity to build strength and stability so we can do something positive.
Physiotherapy’s best contribution to health is to prevent injury, so our regular routine may have been upset but we can use the time to make us stronger and healthier.”
