Putting the flexibility back into those tight hamstrings

Date Published: {J}

IT is amazing what some people come up with when they put their mind to it. Take Edward Burns, known to those in sporting circles as ‘Ned’ Burns, for example. Shocked by the number of lower back, groin and hamstring injuries sustained by players and athletes in recent years, the former personal trainer has investigated the root cause of such complaints and invented a simple, but ingenious device to aid in the prevention of these injuries.

Anyone who has ever met Burns, the former Killererin and Galway goalkeeper, will tell you he lacks nothing in enthusiasm. He has an insatiable appetite for knowledge and the lengths he will go to ensure that he is up to date with new training methods and techniques often go above and beyond the call of duty.

Then again, this is the reason why he has enjoyed so much success as a manager and coach. In 2002, he was part of Fr. Ollie Hughes’ management team that led St. Jarlath’s College, Tuam to Hogan Cup success, before steering the Galway minor footballers to Connacht titles in 2004 and 2005. He was later involved with the Irish U-17 football side that took on Australia in the International Rules series.

In more recent years, he has been a guiding light to a plethora of clubs, including the footballers of Glenamaddy and St. Aidan’s of Ballyforan, Monivea Rugby Club, Padraig Pearses intermediate hurlers, who he currently trains, and Athlone IT, coaching their Sigerson Cup teams for the past three years.

However, in this time, he has been dismayed by the number of injuries picked up by athletes, in particular GAA players. “The biggest, single problem when Fr. Hughes asked me to train Jarlath’s was injuries and flexibility,” says Burns.

“Fr. Hughes was more up to date on that more than anyone at the time because he was into Pilates and yoga. But Jarlath’s had spent €4,000 or €5,000 the year before that on physio for the players and he knew I was into dynamic stretching and he thought that might help.”

Having worked as a personal trainer in a gym in Galway City, Burns was aware there was nothing out there that measured an athlete’s flexibility. So, from 2001 on, he began to formulate ideas in his head, using the likes of former Athletics Ireland Coaching Director Jim Kilty and current National Fitness Director of the IRFU, Dr. Liam Hennessy as sounding boards.

“I was a long time measuring and coming up with an idea,” continues Burns. “Eventually, I came up with the Speed Flexer, using an old crutch and a protractor. From that, I just kept developing and developing the idea.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.