ÀLEX PUIG
Physiotherapist | Girona FC C Team
Àlex Puig serves as a Physiotherapist for the Girona FC “C” Team, International Soccer Academy’s 18+ Integrated Gap Year Academy team in Spain.
A trained physiotherapist and sports rehabilitation specialist, Àlex brings experience working in elite youth football, competitive team environments and clinical practice. His approach focuses on injury prevention, individualized treatment and progressive rehabilitation to help players return safely and confidently to training and competition.
Àlex works collaboratively with coaches, medical professionals and performance staff to support player health, recovery and physical readiness throughout the season.
Experience in Elite Football Environments
Àlex has gained valuable experience supporting players within Real Madrid C.F.’s youth football system.
In this role, he conducted player assessments and monitored the physical condition of young footballers. He treated and managed sports injuries using manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and other specialized techniques selected according to each player’s individual needs.
Alex also participated in rehabilitation and progressive return-to-training programs, collaborating with physiotherapists and technical staff in a high-performance environment.
This experience gave Àlex firsthand insight into the standards, communication and attention to detail required when caring for developing players within an elite professional football organization.
Supporting Footballers Through Spanish Soccer Training and Competition
Àlex has also worked as a physiotherapist with Centre d’Esports Sabadell, supporting players during training sessions and competition.
His responsibilities included:
– Assessing and monitoring player fitness
– Preventing and treating musculoskeletal injuries
– Providing manual therapy and therapeutic exercise
– Designing and supervising rehabilitation programs
– Supporting players during training sessions and matches
– Monitoring training loads and functional progress
– Coordinating with coaches and technical staff
– Providing immediate attention when injuries occurred
– Guiding players through progressive return-to-play programs
Àlex also educated players on injury prevention, recovery and performance optimization. By helping athletes understand how their daily habits affect their physical health, he encouraged them to take greater responsibility for their preparation and recovery.
Clinical Physiotherapy Experience
In addition to his football experience, Àlex has worked in clinical physiotherapy settings, treating patients with a variety of musculoskeletal conditions.
At Egarsat, he conducted functional assessments, explored patients’ physical conditions and developed individualized treatment plans using manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and complementary techniques.
He closely monitored each patient’s clinical progress and adjusted treatment plans based on their response and recovery. He also provided education and self-care strategies designed to prevent recurring injuries.
During his clinical training, Àlex completed placements at several hospitals and medical centers, including:
– Centre Mèdic Teknon
– Hospital Clínic Barcelona
– Mútua de Granollers
– CSI Hospital General
– Hospital de Llobregat
– Centro de Medicina Correctiva de Montcada i Reixac
– Mutuam Güell
Across these environments, he supported the assessment, treatment and monitoring of patients with musculoskeletal and other physical conditions. This broad clinical experience strengthened his ability to communicate with patients, evaluate individual needs and apply evidence-based rehabilitation strategies.
An Individualized Approach to Player Rehabilitation
Àlex believes effective rehabilitation must be tailored to the individual player.
Every injury, athlete and return-to-play process is different. His approach considers the player’s condition, position, training demands, competition schedule and stage of recovery before establishing an appropriate treatment plan.
His work emphasizes:
– Careful assessment and ongoing monitoring
– Individualized rehabilitation planning
– Exercise-based recovery
– Manual therapy
– Progressive return to training
– Functional movement and physical readiness
– Injury-prevention education
– Communication with coaches and performance staff
Rather than focusing only on relieving immediate symptoms, Àlex works to identify the factors that may have contributed to an injury. His goal is to help players recover while reducing the likelihood of the problem returning.
Education in Sports Physiotherapy
Àlex earned his Degree in Physiotherapy from the Gimbernat University Schools, affiliated with the Autonomous University of Barcelona.
He is completing a Master’s Degree in Sports Physiotherapy through the Real Madrid Graduate School at Universidad Europea. This advanced education focuses on the assessment, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation of sports injuries within high-performance environments.
Àlex has also completed postgraduate education addressing chronic stress, the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This specialized area of study expands his understanding of how stress and the nervous system can influence pain, recovery and physical performance.
His additional therapeutic skills include:
– Mat and equipment-based Pilates
– Dry needling
– Percutaneous electrolysis
– Aquatic injury rehabilitation
Through continued education, Àlex works to integrate current scientific evidence with practical therapeutic techniques.
Injury Prevention and Return to Play for Gap Year Soccer Players
In a demanding football-development environment, the physiotherapist’s role extends beyond treating injuries after they occur.
Àlex helps players recognize physical concerns early, follow appropriate recovery strategies and develop habits that support long-term health. He works with players throughout the rehabilitation process, from initial assessment through their progressive return to team training.
A successful return to play requires more than the absence of pain. Players must regain movement quality, strength, confidence and the physical capacity to meet the demands of training and competition.
Through careful monitoring and communication with the coaching staff, Àlex helps ensure that each player’s return is managed responsibly.
Supporting ISA’s North American Soccer Players in Spain
International Soccer Academy’s Girona FC “C” Team gives ambitious 18+ players the opportunity to live, train and compete in an authentic Spanish football environment.
Àlex helps ensure that players receive professional physiotherapy support as they adjust to the intensity and expectations of European football. His role is to help players remain healthy, recover effectively and return safely to the field when injuries occur.
A native Spanish speaker who is also fluent in Catalan and proficient in English, Àlex can communicate effectively with players, coaches and medical professionals in an international team environment.