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Physiotherapy for Athletes

WITH INSIGHTS FROM A FORMER PROFESSIONAL JUDOKA

Preventative Health 3 Minute Read

Recovering from an injury isn’t only about the physical — keeping a client motivated and positive throughout the process is an equally important aspect to consider, says expert physiotherapist Tomislav Uroda. He will be in residence at COMO Shambhala Maalifushi in the Maldives from February to May 2025, and shares how his career as a professional judoka has enhanced his practice in this COMO Conversation.

On physiotherapy for athletes

Tomislav Uroda

Tomislav Uroda is physiotherapist, fitness coach, massage therapist, and former professional athlete. He earned his Master of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation in 2010, and has since worked with prominent football clubs, renowned spas, and the world-famous Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy. Uroda also teaches self-defence classes, and is particularly focussed on empowering women.

TELL US MORE ABOUT YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY.

I started with judo when I was ten years old. Eventually, I trained hard enough to join the national team and won a few championships as well. I was flying almost every weekend to another country to compete for a good 15 years before I decided to study physiotherapy. I studied in Kiev, Ukraine, before heading to the United States to work with the Bollettieri Tennis Academy as a coach and physiotherapist. After that, I returned home and worked as a physiotherapist for football teams in Croatia, Iceland, and Kuwait. 

Having travelled to many countries, I find that there are different cultural reactions to physiotherapy. In Europe, people prefer a gentler approach with as little pressure or pain as possible. In Iceland, they prefer as much pressure as possible, and they prefer it to be painful to feel like it has really worked.

DID YOUR BACKGROUND IN JUDO HELP YOU TO TREAT PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES?

Yes. Judo is very physical. By the time I was 20 years old, I already had surgery done on both my knees and numerous other injuries. Going through my own journey of rehabilitation and pain management allowed me to better understand what my athletes are feeling — what kind of pain, where the pain is, and how to best treat it. Having hands-on experience made the rehabilitative experience more effective than approaching it from a purely theoretical perspective. 

I remember a player who sustained quite a serious injury, back when I first started as a physiotherapist at 25. He had suffered an intense blow to the abdomen and the muscles around the stomach, and was also in extreme distress about not being able to continue his career, but I was confident about being able to help him. I first administered some injections in the trigger points to reduce the trauma to the muscles, and devised a holistic programme to help him recover. We started with a massage to loosen the muscles, then a light run to warm up, before working on his agility. He’d initially wanted to retire, but after sticking to my programme, he was able to return to the sport in good condition. People expect results very quickly, but it is more important to manage each condition carefully so that the results can be maintained in the long run.

YOU’VE TRAINED BOTH TENNIS PLAYERS AND FOOTBALL PLAYERS. WHAT KINDS OF INJURIES DO THEY USUALLY FACE?

The approach depends on the degree of injury and the player’s own condition. Footballers usually face a higher degree of injury because it’s more physical and their boots can also increase the severity of a sliding tackle, for example. For tennis players, it’s usually about injury prevention and conditioning the shoulders, rotator cuffs, and making sure the knees are also protected. 

Being a physiotherapist for elite athletes also includes caring for the players’ emotions and mental wellbeing. There’s big money in the game, and people give their whole lives for the sport. Their money and career depend on their health, and with such huge stakes and pressure, it’s easy for them to panic and get stressed whenever they get injured. I usually try to calm them down with encouraging words. 

YOU’LL BE AT COMO SHAMBHALA MAALIFUSHI IN THE MALDIVES FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY 2025. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE TREATMENTS THAT YOU’LL BE CONDUCTING?

I always recommend a session of assisted stretching, even though it’s something that no one likes to do. When I’m training athletes, they want to get right into the heavy lifting or play a practice match, but I always tell them stretching is also part of training. During training, your muscles get a good workout and become tense. Specialised stretches for each muscle group can help improve flexibility, which helps prevent injury and extends its lifespan. I try to make my stretching sessions more fun with bigger groups or splitting them into pairs where they can interact a little more. 

Kinesiotaping is something new, but it is beneficial for athletes — I find myself doing this for tennis players often. It involves using an elastic therapeutic tape to support a muscle from where it’s attached to the bone to the end of it, and is called the passive fixation of muscles. When done by a professional, it helps to reduce pain, increase circulation, and supports muscles and joints. It’s not limited to just athletes — even those recovering from knee or chiropractic surgeries can benefit from kinesiotaping. 

And no matter what sport you play, fitness and personal training is always essential and not something to avoid. Even chess players have fitness programmes. It’s most important after surgery. For example, if you get knee surgery, you have to train your quads and hamstrings to ensure proper support throughout the leg. I start with isolated exercises for the quads and hamstrings, and after some progress, you can start with other strengthening exercises. Each session looks different — a client might want to focus on endurance, another might want to enhance agility or specific skills for their sport. 

I’ll also be teaching a self-defence class with insights that draw on my judo experience. Judo is very beneficial, and it’s not just a sport — it’s a way of life. Judo is special and it trains both your mind and body. It’s not aggressive, there’s no blood. You have to think quickly and make the best use of your opponent’s force to overcome them. We all face stressful and critical situations in life, but I find that I’m able to keep my cool and make good decisions because of my judo training. During the classes, I try to impart these teachings as best as I can.

Tomislav Uroda will be at COMO Shambhala Maalifushi from February 16th to May 10th 2025. To book a session with him or learn more, please click here. Stay updated on our calendar of visiting wellness experts here.

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