Sound Body, Sound Mind

Jordan Salesa with swimmer Moss Burmester.

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano: a sound mind in a sound body. The quotation is nearly 2000 years old but it could easily be the mantra of our Beijing Olympic Games medical team.

"You really do not want anyone to be turning up to the Games with an injury," says Jordan Salesa, the team's lead physiotherapist. "Our job is really about body maintenance. Sometimes niggles creep in, sometimes an athlete has a minor injury which we have to cope with as best we can. But mostly it's helping athletes to prepare and recover. It's about them staying in a condition to perform their best."

In line with past Games, a health clinic will be set up in the New Zealand camp In Beijing. This will be staffed by five doctors, two physiotherapists, two massage therapists, a chiropractor, a psychologist and a surgeon. In addition, across New Zealand's sports teams and squads, there will be another 19 health professionals, including 11 physiotherapists and three doctors (not all will stay in the village).

That's more medical professionals than at Athens. New Zealand has qualified more athletes so we're entitled to more support staff, explains Salesa. While there's a total of over 30 medical staff, they won't be twiddling fingers. The health clinic is open 7am – 9pm "and usually that's extended," says Salesa. A doctor sleeps in the clinic so care is available through the night.

Typical care? "It ranges. There's a wide ranging group of athletes. Some are used to having daily interventions of massage or physio and some are not. You want to maintain continuity of care. We try to find out from each athlete's normal health professional before leaving New Zealand what the athlete is used to, and how issues are managed. Some athletes can be very specific in what they want. It is quite individual. You do what is best for the individual athlete."

Salesa gets to Beijing on 24 July as part of the early arrival team, nearly two weeks before the Games opens. "We'll have time to sort out any issues before the athletes arrive. After that, I'll be doing hands-on stuff with the athletes as they train and compete."

The health clinic includes a "mini chemist", stocked with medicines (mostly supplied free by drug companies). The issues dealt with are "the stuff you'd see your normal GP or physiotherapist for," says Salesa. "We send a whole lot of consumables. The Chinese are great, but you can't rely on them having the same products we are used to. We take everything we think we will need. Sticking plasters, strapping tape, acupuncture needles, bracing and IV fluids. There are several hundred medical and physiotherapy specific items we have sent to China."

They also sent a few physiotherapy tables, with more to be supplied in China. There are no "electrical toys", as Salesa terms it – such as ultrasound machines. "They're hardly ever used anymore in the Games environment. For acute injury, compression bandages and anti-inflammatory drugs are usually more effective. Except for treating fractures, but that would be the end of their Games."

A healthy mind? "It has become far more accepted in recent years that a psychologist does add value - ranging from crisis management to a friendly chat," notes Salesa. The team psychologist is Gary Hermanson, who's come on several Games campaigns. "It's a stressful environment. A psychologist is not the answer to everything, but then neither is a physio or a doctor. All fields add value at some point".

At a more general level of relaxing in a high pressure environment, the health clinic at Olympic and Commonwealth Games always becomes "a grounding area" for athletes. "People hang out there. It's a safe zone where athletes can come and relax and not have to deal with outsiders. At peak times, it can be the busiest place of the whole New Zealand village," Salesa says.

As recently as Athens, being on the medical team was voluntary, bar expenses. For Beijing, medics are paid, "though you'd earn more if you stayed home," Salesa jokes. Still, there were plenty more applicants than positions.

"We have the best medical people. You aim to be able to work together as a team to solve the athletes' issues. That's the high performance side of it. That's what attracts health professionals to come to the Games."

Jordan Salesa co-owns and runs Physio Rehab Group which has eight branches around Auckland. He was lead physiotherapist for the New Zealand teams to the Athens Olympic Games and Melbourne Commonwealth Games; and for the Samoan teams to the Sydney Olympic Games and Manchester Commonwealth Games. Salesa is currently lead physiotherapist to Swimming NZ and has also been physio for the Samoan rugby team, "on and off" for ten years. "I'm half Samoan," he explains.

Salesa is married - "to a very understanding wife!" They live in Auckland and have four young children.

Updated | 31 Oct 2008.

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