THETHAI' S THE LIMIT

LIFE is a bed of roses for Gary Caldwell at Easter Road - on a mattress of magnets.

The Hibs skipper has revealed how he has turned to Thai Therapy to keep him fit, focused and maybe even playing towards the age of 40.

The ancient alternative treatment was first practised by Buddhist monks in the Far East 6500 years ago but its healing powers are now being harnessed by more and more people in the west.

Caldwell, 23, is following in the footsteps of players such as Jackie McNamara and Henrik Larsson in beating a path to the door of Fife therapist Ken Anderson.

And he is already feeling the benefits of the weekly sessions and believes it was the power of the treatment that allowed him to make a return from two broken ribs and a punctured lung almost a month ahead of schedule.

The Scotland defender picked up the injury in the 4-0 derby drubbing by Hearts in August, but hopes he is the one inflicting the pain of defeat on his arch-rivals at Easter Road this afternoon.

High-flying Hibs have the chance to close the gap on the SPL leaders to four points if they can avenge that thumping and hand the Jambos their first loss of the campaign.

Caldwell believes that is definitely possible - and not only because Anderson is also an advocate of the art of positive thinking.

He said: "My fiancee Lindsey booked a session with Ken for my 21st birthday and while it was an unusual gift,Thai therapy has certainly helped me.

"I've now been visiting Ken for almost 18 months on a weekly basis and he has also worked with McNamara and Larsson, among others.

"Thai therapy involves a lot of stretching and massage, which can be quite painful, but it certainly loosens you up and keeps your body in tune. Ken believes there are canals running through the body and it's important they are kept clear and flowing to maximise health and fitness and he even encourages the use of magnetic mattresses.

"There are psychological benefits as well because Ken has a very positive outlook and speaks about focus and the importance of tuning the mind.

"Some people might think it's a lot of rubbish but it has been worked wonders for me, as well as many others.

"Ken doesn't need me to plug him because he has worked with bigger-name players than me, but it was only after I had my rib injury I realised just how good the therapy can be.

"Doctors told me on a Monday it would be eight weeks before I would be ready to play again after the rib injury but Ken assured me on the Tuesday it would take nowhere near as long.

"True enough,he did such a good job he got me back three weeks quicker than expected and I played against FC Dnipro in the UEFA Cup.

"Football is my livelihood and I haveanopenmindabout therapies and treatments that can help me return quicker from injury or stay injury free"There is the possibility Thai therapy might even keep me playing longer if it helps me stay clear of knocks.

"Hopefully, the benefits I've found from it at a young age will help keep me going for years to come."

Anderson may have helped the physical pain of Caldwell's return from injury after the last Edinburgh derby but the emotional scars remain.He went up for a high ball inthe box at Tynecastle and was clattered by his own keeper Zibi Malkowski.

Caldwell bravely returned to the fray after treatment but it quickly became clear the damage was quite serious.

He added: "I was lying in abed in the hospital and heard the score was 3-0 and by the time I got to my room,Hearts had made it four.

"The day just got worse and worse but we've bounced back since then and I'm really looking forward to this game after only managing 20 minutes last time out.

"We know Hearts are a good team - you don't go 12 games undefeated in this league for nothing - but the challenge for us is to cut the gap at the top.

"To be honest, I haven't been paying that much attention to everything that has been going on at Hearts in the last week - Hibs are the only thing on my mind. Hearts area big story in Scottish and British football and although people are beginning to sit up and take notice, it hasn't affected us.

"Losing a manager is never pretty but I suspected something like that was always going to happen over there.

"But that's for them to deal with, not us."

Hearts chairman George Foulkes has already declared the SPL title chase a two-horse race and it isn't only Rangers fans who are indignant about his comments, but Hibees as well.

Caldwell admits the challenge from Leith is being spoken about in whispers rather than Gorgie roars, but he is determined his team will be in with a shout at the end of the season.

In fact, he insists a successful season could even convince him to remain at the club beyond the end of the season, when his contract expires.

Caldwelladded: "If we finish high uptheleaguetablewe'vegotabetter chance of playing in the UEFA Cup or Champions League and I'm sure that would come into my thoughts when I'm considering my future"We must think these positions are available because if we started every season aiming only for a top-six finish, it would hardly be exciting.

"We've got to aim to be first and if we finish second we'd still be happy because I've always believed in aiming for the top as settling for anything else only leads to mediocrity.

"Hearts deserve the limelight they have received this season as they are sitting at the top of the league,which is where I'd like Hibs to be.

"Perhaps it has helped us not to be in the glare of publicity as much because we've got a young team and we're happy to be going about our business.

"Mind you, if we beat Hearts the spotlight would be on us for the next couple of weeks and that's something we wouldn't mind happening

Taken from the Daily Record