Managers in England to have mobile health tests

The League Managers Association (LMA) has, with the support of the Premier League, introduced "mobile testing" for the first time to monitor managers' health, ESPN Soccernet can reveal.

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Sam Allardyce's heart problems have again raised questions about managers' health.

The LMA has already taken the mobile testing units to Arsenal and Chelsea this summer where 19 managers were examined in a bid to ensure football bosses are regularly screened for a variety of health problems from prostate cancer to diabetes.

Of the 82 managers tested, a "significant number" were revealed to have a health problem and have subsequently been successfully treated. Sam Allardyce's heart operation demonstrates the need for regular testing, undertaken by the LMA in their 'Fit-to-Manage Programme'.

Although there has been a succession of managers suffering stress-related problems, such as Graeme Souness and Gerard Houllier, health screening is concerned with the wider issues of men's health, as managers are generally in their 40s, 50s and 60s.

For that reason, the LMA is now introducing optional testing for prostate cancer, as well as putting into operation their mobile testing unit because so many managers were unable to attend the permanent screening centre, which was based in Stockport.

The LMA states: "Several potential health crises have been detected in a significant number of managers and dealt with very successfully."

The LMA delivers the 'Fit-to-Manage Programme' in conjunction with the Premier League, health charity Wellness International, Stanford University and the Berkeley Heart Laboratory.

The aims of managers' health screening are clearly set out: "The programme looks to assess all areas of a manager's health, fitness and lifestyle and make recommendations for change to increase the ability to deal with the unique nature of football management."

The programme is "breaking new ground in preventative medicine", plus "holistic healthcare delivering lifestyle programmes to improve health and fitness".

The programme is designed to have a 12-month tracking programme of ongoing assessment, there are one-to-one "wellness coaches" provided to assist managers, and the object is also to use the managers as "role models" to impact on the public at large.

Wellness International adopts a pro-active approach to physical wellbeing by not only identifying an individual's risk factors for illness but also by ensuring the individual can minimise those risk factors by an educational and interactive approach to optimising lifestyle.

The LMA state: "This is a tailor-made programme that caters for the health and 'wellness' of football managers. Its aim is to prevent illness and optimise the health and fitness of the league managers.

"Its major focus is on the reduction of cardiovascular risk and other lifestyle related diseases through a comprehensive approach, which involves in-depth cardio respiratory assessments, lifestyle interventions including advanced blood lipid (fats) testing where appropriate and follow-up tracking and subsequent re-testing throughout each year.

"Its accolades are now being recognised worldwide. Wellness International has received World and European 'Best Practice' awards for its work in corporate wellness."