Member Article

Reds’ new medical facility could help improve public health

Manchester United and its partner Toshiba Medical Systems have introduced a new cutting-edge medical facility at the club’s training complex – that may have health benefits for the wider population outside the world of elite sport.

The partnership, secured within an agreement announced in 2012, has seen Toshiba install scanning equipment at the Aon Complex at Carrington.

This will help with the early diagnosis of injury, as well as aiming to improve the welfare of players, while also supporting research into early markers of potentially preventable injuries and ways to help players enjoy longer careers at the highest levels.

It will also aid analysis of patterns and trends in rehabilitation, with innovative techniques that can help improve the understanding of both normal and abnormal responses to athletic training. This could have applications to everyday health problems and injuries - beyond the realm of sport.

Dr Steve McNally, the Reds’ club doctor, said: “Our partnership with Toshiba Medical Systems that provides Manchester United with state of the art Ultrasound, MRI and CT scanning facilities at our training complex will be a world first, offering a unique opportunity to explore the capabilities of medical imaging within an elite sporting environment.

“Not only am I excited about the possibilities for enhancing player healthcare, athletic development and ultimately performance, the innovative applications we hope to develop through this collaboration may confer wider healthcare benefits for the general population.”

United manager David Moyes added: “I’m absolutely delighted to have this facility fully up and running. Not only is it cutting edge medical technology, it will also help us detect the early signs of injury and help to refine the rehabilitation process - something that will pay dividends for years to come.”

United’s group managing director, Richard Arnold, commented: “Our players are at the centre of Manchester United and it is vital that we are able to offer them the best possible medical support.

“Toshiba are one of the world-leaders in sports medicine, and this partnership will have tangible value to the success of Manchester United and continue to advance understanding into both sports and other kinds of injuries.”

Toshiba’s vice president of sales and service in Europe, Mark Holmshaw, said: “This partnership will see the rapid development of world-class sports medicine applications from global leaders in the fields of football and medical technology.

“Toshiba’s medical technology delivers excellent image quality as well as market leading diagnostic precision that will enable Manchester United to identify, treat and rehabilitate players with a speed not currently experienced in world football today.

“Also, we will identify best practice rehabilitation for professional athletes, identifying new treatments, whilst delivering guidance and potential applications and treatment pathways for the wider public regarding the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation for all patients in the long term.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .