The head of Napoli’s medical staff Dr. Raffaele Canonico says Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has overcome his lower back pain while Amir Rrahmani will be back on the pitch against Inter. The pair missed part of Napoli season through their respective injuries but are expected to return when Serie A resumes in January.
Speaking to Corriere dello Sport, Canonico explained the conditions of both players and how the club approaches player injuries:
“The players, after the Udinesegame, received personalised physical and food plans, so as not to completely lose conditioning. As Spalletti says: the international break is a blessing, not a hinderance. Now we will simply continue the work started in the summer.
Covid? Everything has changed since 2020: the levels of psychophysical stress of the post Covid seasons have grown exponentially between the compression of calendars and the World Cup. Players are not machines and certain rhythms have increased their injuries. Traumatic and muscular: a scandal is inevitable Recovery times are also not adequate.
Sometimes the most used players skip certain exercises. They recover in training: it is scientifically proven that at the fourth consecutive game the risk increases hand in hand with fatigue.
Combating fatigue? We use postural and manual techniques. Massages. Criosauna after sessions and tubs of cold water after the matches. Thermal shock with hot and very cold water during the week. And then specific nutrition regimes and integration for muscle recovery with red fruits, a series of natural supplements and dark chocolate after the games.
The World Cup break? The team reached November feeling the pinch. It is a one-of-a-kind year, but the coach and his staff have an incredible experience and in Russia they have already managed similar situations We work in total osmosis.”
The players are different: there are those who have never stopped playing, such as those engaged in the World Cup, but also those who will return to the field after 53 days off.
“For this reason with Sinatti and Cacciapuoti and with the nutritionist Rufolo we have studied individual programs. I personally spoke to the kids every day. Even those in Qatar.
The Turkey tour? Even in Antalya the plans will be ad hoc: based on the history of the last few months, that is, on accidents and annoyances. It will be a preparation for the resumption of activities, not a summer model ‘ritiro’. The real break did not go beyond 15 days. With my deputy, Dr. De Luca, we will coordinate the tests and data processing, but interaction is fundamental. Constant communication with athletes: their feedback helps to understand and prevent.
Kvara has already returned to the group, his low back pain has passed. Osimhen also healed from trauma to the lumbar area. Rrahmani proceeds quickly: we aim to get him back on January 4 with Inter.”
