Support helps Couch combat chronic patellar tendinopathy

Support helps Couch combat chronic patellar tendinopathy [371 KB]

The Challenge

Tonia Couch is a Plymouth individual and synchronised 10m diver who has been managed by her English Institute of Sport (EIS) support team for a chronic patellar tendinopathy which in previous seasons intermittently forced her out of international competition. 

The Approach

At the beginning of this season the decision was taken by Tonia, her coach and support team to perform an autologous blood injection and dry needling into the affected area to promote tendon healing.  This was discussed with Dr Alistair Park, EIS Diving Chief Medical Officer and performed by Doctor Richard Higgins, Lead EIS Doctor for Yorkshire in Sheffield. 

A programme was set for her from Sheffield by Rob Johnson (Lead Yorkshire Physiohtherapist) and Lucy Follett, EIS Physiotherapist to Diving.  The programme was delivered by her local regular EIS Physiotherapist Tim Powell who continued to correspond with the Northern medical team on a regular basis. Kate Hays, EIS Diving Lead Psychologist was integral in this rehabilitation process also, mainly aiding communication between athlete, coach and medical team.

Once Tonia had completed the eccentric programme set and the tendon symptoms had settled, Ben Fourniss, EIS Strength and Conditioning coach worked hard with Tonia to continue building strength both through the tendon and more generally through her lower limb. 

The Outcome

Tonia has returned to Sheffield for monitoring and her local team have continued to work very hard to maintain her current ability to dive with significantly reduced symptoms.

Tonia’s ability to train and compete with few or no symptoms has allowed her to achieve a better ‘pop’ out of the jump for her front 3.5 somersaults dive.

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