Fulham midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen has embraced yoga this summer in a bid to put his injury problems behind him.
The Danish under-21 international missed much of last season due to persistent groin and hamstring niggles and struggled to recapture the outstanding form that saw him surge onto the first-team scene so impressively in 2014. Christensen, who is hoping to represent his country at this summer’s Olympic Games in Rio, was far from convinced when Fulham’s fitness supremo Marco Ceserani and the club’s physios suggested yoga as a solution to his injury worries but has now embraced the idea wholeheartedly.
I’ve actually been to a yoga teacher. I was sceptical at the start, but a lot of top players have done so and I think I can show the benefits. With the hamstring, it doesn’t mean that’s the weakest point. With the way I play – high intensity and a lot of running – there’s a lot more chance of me getting this sort of injury. It’s happened far too many times for anyone’s liking now.
I’m one of those players that try to look at myself first when that sort of thing happens, and quite hard on myself. I’ve been thinking a lot how to prevent it. Between the physios and me we’re trying new things, and trying to settle things down. But with the hamstring, it doesn’t mean that’s the weakest point. It’s probably more so to do with the back and the hips.
A lot of players get a hamstring [injury] at some stage, but for it’s happened over the last one-and-a-half seasons. Maybe, when I’m 25 or 26, I will benefit from what I’m doing now and when I’m older still I can avoid what happens to other players as they get older.
The 21 year-old managed thirty appearances this season – but had to cope with significant spells on the sidelines after getting injured in what turned out to be Kit Symons’ final game in charge of the club in November and then breaking down in the early stages of the derby win at QPR in February. His value to Fulham is not in doubt – and the club are continuing positive talks about extending his contract – but Christensen wants to return to the high-octane displays that characterised his first full Championship season.
