Qscan rehab report: Managing COVID-19

Navigating the recent wave of COVID-19 has become a unique challenge for Gold Coast Titans high performance staff.

With players who become infected or are a close contact of the virus needing to isolate for seven days, it's important a suitable return to training program is followed - just like standard injuries - to ensure the most optimal recovery from the week of minimal activity.

As a majority of Titans squad members return from their isolation period, high performance manager Klint Hoare has remained positive with dealing with the new and intriguing situation.

"COVID-19 isn't just hitting the game and National Rugby League competition but the broader community as well," Hoare said.

"Our attitude and programming around it and our whole demeanour has to be positive and we need to be positive around our playing group.

"We've put a plan in place with our coaching staff and high performance unit and this has been led by current research around return to training and return to playing programs over in England and we are just putting some governance and best practice around that.

"All of our players will have a scaffolded return and it will depend on their symptoms.

"If it's affecting their neck down, we'll monitor any serious symptoms like bronchitis, stuff around the lungs and respiratory infection, but if it's neck up, and we're just talking about headaches and fatigue, there will be a different return strategy for them."

In other injury news for fans, Jaimin Jolliffe is back training after sustaining a hamstring injury, as is Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, who injured his knee in a training collision late last year.

"We've come back and had Jimmy and Tino return from their rehab pre-Christmas" Hoare said.

"It's so good to have them back as they provide plenty of energy for our squad, but it's also a really promising sign they've responded well to their rehab programs."

New recruit Aaron Booth has also returned after having surgery in the post-season break.

'"Aaron is a good character who works really hard behind the scenes in regard to his preparation, but unfortunately, he's had a few injuries coming into our program," Hoare said.

"He's had a few operations including a clean-out of the knee and a shoulder reconstruction.

"He's responding well, but he's probably two weeks behind because of the Christmas break and he had to have that clean-out, so he's on track for the trial match against the Warriors up in Redcliffe."

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