News

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Two years ago, Society Member Joby Wilson graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a Distinction in MSc Sports Therapy. Joby had already opened his own clinic, the Reboot Injury Clinic, in 2014 where he is the Lead Therapist. Then in April last year, with this experience and having taken part in martial arts from the age of 7, Joby became the ideal candidate to take up the post of Head of  Sports Therapy to the Saudi Arabian National Taekwondo Team, working with the KTW Academy; an elite performance centre in Oxford. While the role has now finished, Joby is clearly not a person to stand still and he is already scoping out another exciting project. We caught up with Joby to find out more about his career to date. Then in April last year, with this experience and having taken part in martial arts from the age of 7, Joby became the ideal candidate to take up the post of Head of Sports Therapy to the Saudi Arabian National Taekwondo Team, working with the KTW Academy; an elite performance centre in Oxford. While the role has now finished, Joby is clearly not a person to stand still and he is already scoping out another exciting project. We caught up with Joby to find out more about his career to date. How did the role of Head of Sports Therapy come about? I was approached through one of the directors of the company running the project, whom I knew from a short period of competing in Taekwondo. They were looking for a Sports Therapist who fully understood the demands of the sport. What do you feel are your key strengths that made you stand out from other therapists applying for the role? My experience in martial arts as both an athlete and Sports Therapist gave me a better knowledge of the potential injuries that can happen, along with the necessary measures for athletes to take to prevent their occurrence. What were your principal tasks? How often did you see the team and did you travel with them? I was seeing the athletes 4-5 days per week. I implemented an injury prevention warm up to be done before training and competitions, carried out screenings for the athletes and produced injury prevention and prehab programmes. I also assisted the Strength and Conditioning Coach with S&C sessions, treated and rehabilitated injuries and ran massage clinics for the athletes. Unfortunately I was unable to attend international competitions due to other work commitments but I did travel with the team for test match days within the UK. What challenged you most as Head of Sports Therapy? Trying to get athletes to take simple advice on injury prevention and utilising protective equipment and basic injury management. It was sometimes challenging to help them understand that if they kick and elbow that day, their foot will hurt for more than a couple of minutes! What additional value do you feel the MSc Sport Therapy Course has added to your learning and development process? This really encouraged me to stay up to date with current research and implement evidence based strategies to our injury prevention and rehab protocols. Congratulations for being the Owner and Lead Sports Therapist of Reboot Injury Clinic! What made you decide to open your own clinic? Prior to beginning my Masters I’d already signed a contract for a business premises. The Reboot Injury Clinic was a great addition to the Martial Arts Centre and gym that was already running there. You clearly have a very busy life – how do you manage to keep on top of things? With difficulty! I have constant reminders, scribbles on paper and a diary that tells me where and when I have to be somewhere, notifying me well in advance. We understand you continue to compete internationally in karate – tell us more about your passion. I’ve been competing since the age of 15, starting karate when I was 7. It’s allowed me to travel and fight in Europe and recently Japan. This year I am competing in Spain, Austria, Chile and China. Therapy comes into it all the time as injuries are commonplace but we, as athletes, are self-funded. Access to therapy is therefore tricky, so it’s nice to be able to assist others in their return from injury. I love competing but it is often difficult to juggle that with everything else. Training and work have to swap over as one takes a back seat at busier periods, but it would be tough to walk away from the sport altogether. What’s next on your career’s to do list? I am heading out to present to the World Taekwondo Federation and hopefully World Karate Federation to begin the implementation of a concussion protocol and rehabilitation from concussion. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Helen Williams is a talented Graduate Sports Therapist who undoubtedly has bags of energy and determination. Whenever faced with challenges in her career, Helen has risen to the occasion. She has developed an  entrepreneurial approach to her clinic and, like any good business owner, has continued to adapt her offering to the public through her own further training and professional development. She has also managed to raise two children along the way. Helen shared her story with us. Tell us about your experience as an undergraduate Sport Therapy student during your time at the University of Chichester. What were your highlights?  I absolutely loved Chichester University. Coming from rural West Wales it had the perfect mix, being set in a beautiful small and interesting city but within 10 minutes you could be out in the gorgeous South Downs exploring the countryside. Being a relatively small University was fantastic; you were part of a community where everyone supported each other. I was lucky enough to get involved with the University football team and Eastbourne Town FC while I was there, which did involve a lot of travelling but it was fantastic for gaining pitch side experience. As a result of your hard work, you now have your own Sports Therapy Clinic –  What challenges have you faced throughout this journey? Once qualified and back in West Wales I had applied for a few jobs but it soon became evident back then that not being statutorialy regulated had some disadvantages but I soon became involved with both Aberaeron and Newcastle Emlyn Rugby clubs and slowly I began to build my own private practice. Initially I offered a mobile service as it was a niche market and enabled me to offer something different to my competitors. I won’t lie, it was a slow process but through hard work and working alongside fantastic people, such as Kristy Dahill who invited me to be part of her team at Aberystwyth Sports Injury Clinic, I have slowly built up a practice which I am very proud of. I now work across 3 locations across Ceredigion. I have been very fortunate and now have a busy practice working with a wide range of patients. I have two young children (5 and 7) which meant maternity leave. With my first I took 6 months off which was a big risk due to not knowing whether I would have patients to go back to, but thankfully I was very lucky. With my second child I found a new sports therapy graduate to cover for me while I was off. This worked brilliantly initially but she finished early and forced me back to work a lot earlier than I had anticipated, but I was able to work part time and had amazing family support to help me. You have a passion for riding; how and when did this begin? My mother was never allowed a pony as a child so once she married, she brought her first pony and needless to say I was hooked from a young age, getting my first pony named Tiddlywinks at 6 years old. I progressed through The Pony Club and was selected to represent Wales and Borders at Tetrathlon (Shooting, swimming, riding and running). My main passion is now the sport of eventing. I travel all over competing when I can, although my daughter has now got involved as well, so I get to enjoy watching her as well. To combine both of your passions- riding and Sports Therapy, you have recently completed your Equipilates and Rider Biomechanics Trainer Course-  tell us a bit about this Course. I joined a local Pilates class and saw how much it helped my riding. It got me thinking of how I could combine my sports therapy with rider rehabilitation. I did some research and came across Equipilates™. This course was founded by Lindsay Wilcox-Reid, involving a mix of Pilates and Rider biomechanics. I got to train with the inspirational Rachel Rafiefar for the YMCA Level 3 Pilates qualification. Her experience and knowledge was second to none. As always it was great to refresh on anatomy and movement. There is a lot of information out there regarding running biomechanics and gait and slowly the equestrian world is conducting more research into how a rider’s biomechanics affect the horse and therefore performance. The course combined intrinsic biomechanics screening protocols, with postural analysis, both standing and on the saddled horse, to then building a programme to combine anti spasm exercises, along with strengthening and Pilates, to help achieve a more balanced rider. How will this help you in your business? After 12 years of private practice I was looking for something new to enhance my business; something that would make me a little different from other local therapists. I am currently able to fit 5 Pilates classes a week around my 3 days of Sports Injury work. Not only does this bring me increased revenue butvariety in my day and I get to move around a lot more than I would in a clinic environment. Day to day I do a lot of manual therapy, from massage to mobilisations and I wanted to safeguard my future if my hands found it too much (touch wood so far so good!), the Pilates aspect has certainly given my hands a break. I am also involved with my local riding club and Pony Club and look to be able to offer both half and full day clinics as well as 1-2-1 sessions where I can combine both the Sports Therapy and Equipilates™ sessions. What does a typical day in your life as a Sports Therapist look like? For me everyday is different which is part of what I love about my job. I work in 3 different locations across West Wales. I teach 5 Pilates classes over 4 days. I try to have Fridays off but am finding that increasingly difficult due to demand. I treat up to 10 sports therapy patients a day but I do always try and make sure I sit down for lunch! What`s the one piece of advice you would give to final year Sport Therapy students? To get as much work experience as you can, any opportunity you can get to watch, be involved with, and learn from any other therapist  -take it. What is on your Sports Therapist wish list at the moment? Any goals that are yet to be reached? What I love more than anything with sports therapy is you are continuously learning and developing with new research always coming to the forefront. For 2018 I aim to complete my Advanced Equipilates and Biomechanics Trainer course and increase my knowledge in that field. I would also like to learn more about working with young people as I would like to work more with the Pony Club and young athletes.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Buckinghamshire New University students Marilie Appel and Emma Odeneal have completed a month’s placement at Surrey Sports Park in Guildford as part of their BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy degree programmes. Placements are an integral part of all Society of Sports Therapists’ accredited degree programmes, and so we were particularly delighted to hear all about it. During their month-long placement, Emma and Marilie had the privilege of working with British Basketball League team Surrey Scorchers and Vitality Netball Super League team Surrey Storm. The students attended training sessions and Scorchers matches, assisting the team with injury management and training load profiling. The students were also a part of a marketing project for the Sports Park’s new clinic ‘The Treatment Room’, helping to write material for future advertising and experiencing the behind-the-scenes work that goes into setting up a clinic. Danielle Garfoot, Clinical Manager of Treatment Room at Surrey Sports Park and Lead Therapist for Surrey Storm and Surrey Scorchers said: “This was the first time Surrey Sports Park has offered a full-time Sports Therapy student placement and it was great to have the students from Bucks New University with us for a dedicated period of time. “It allowed for me to expand the areas in which our previously part-time students have worked, and include them in our Performance meetings, spend some time alongside our S&C coaches and get involved with the administration and marketing side of running a private sports injury clinic. “It also meant Marilie and Emma were able to build a rapport with therapists and athletes alike, progressively increasing their role in the treatment plan. It was a pleasure to work with such proactive students and made me very excited about supporting students and developing our partnership with Bucks New University and other universities in the future.” Emma said she particularly enjoyed the sessions with the basketball team as she herself loves to play. She added: “We were certainly kept busy as the injuries among all the teams and players were very diverse. One great point of the placement was the interaction we enjoyed with the players on a daily basis and this helped to grow our understanding of each individual and in turn the injuries they were suffering with. “One particular injury to a basketball player’s shoulder caused a palpable change in the player’s mood and personality, which is also something to keep in mind. Marilie said: “Alongside the basketball and netball teams, the placement allowed us to work within Surrey Sports Park’s clinic, which meant working with the public, complete pitch-side and taping with the University of Surrey sports teams and injury assessment and treatment for Team Surrey. “I found the most enjoyable thing of the placement was the constant variety of people and injuries. Every day brought something new and interesting to learn, especially learning about the admin and organisation that goes on behind the scenes to make a successful clinic.” Marilie and Emma said special thanks to Danielle Garfoot and Gemma Hendry at Surrey Sports Park for overseeing them for a month and to Neal Reynolds, Senior Lecturer in Sports Therapy at Bucks New University, for organising the opportunity. “We look forward to this new relationship between Surrey and Bucks to grow and develop further in the future,” added the pair. Sports Therapy students at  Bucks New have also enjoyed placements at Watford FC Academy, Beaconsfield Town FC, High Wycombe Rugby Club, Halsa Care Group, and Loughborough University., Editor’s Notes: We would love to hear from any other students who have been on placements and have been inspired by their experience[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Society Member Nick Gardiner is the Academic Group Lead for Sports Therapy and Sports Science at London Metropolitan University and last year proved to be a very successful time for both Nick and his team. Nick contributed a chapter in one of the world’s most famous sports injury books and the department scooped the London Metropolitan University Staff Excellence Award 2017 for an outstanding contribution to the University. Aldo Lena, a Lecturer in Sports Therapy at the university, caught up with him to find out more and he shared his thoughts with us. Nick’s areas of specialism are sports rehabilitation, electrotherapy and enterprise and for 9 years up to 2016, he ran a number of successful sports injury clinics in both Cambridge and London. Nick, how do you feel about your contribution to this very successful clinical sports medicine book? I was honoured to be asked to be a part of such a prestigious publication. 13 years ago, as a first year student at London Met, Clinical Sports Medicine was the first book I bought and it became a well worn companion right through to my clinical practice. Having taught electrotherapy for a number of years it was a pleasure to review the latest literature and provide guidance based on the current evidence. I am also very grateful to my colleague Raffaella Pontonutti, who provided a lot of help throughout this process. How were you approached to provide your expertise for this book? I got to know Professor Karim Khan after he kindly agreed to be a keynote speaker at the inaugural 2009 Society of Sports Therapists’ Student Conference hosted at London Metropolitan University. Karim asked me to a provide a small contribution about ultrasound for a previous edition of Clinical Sports Medicine before inviting me back for this latest edition. Why do you think this book is useful to Sports Therapists? I see this as the core text for our Sports Therapy and Sports and Dance Therapy courses at London Met. Karim has a great understanding of what Sports Therapy means. This has always come across when he has spoken with, and inspired our students and it is evident throughout the book. The book provides the context that the students and graduates need, and is something we recommend they invest in from their very first day. Do you think that Sports Therapists are now becoming more recognised as knowledgeable healthcare professionals? Absolutely. There were just 4 universities offering Sports Therapy when I was a student, the market demand and recognition among the general public, main stream and niche sports has seen that grow to 32 accredited programmes. The other shift I have observed over the past ten years is the frequency with which roles for Sports Therapists are now advertised which is really encouraging. The Society of Sports Therapists work very hard with governing bodies and organisations to continue to raise the profile of Sports Therapy, their recent work to forge opportunities within the NHS being a prime example. I’ve also seen many instances of great work being done by Graduate Sports Therapists in the field which is all helping to enhance the reputation and recognition of our discipline. Top Marks for Nick and the Sports Therapy and Sports Science Team 2017 was a very good year for Nick and his Sports Therapy and Sports Science team. The team was awarded the Staff Excellence Award 2017 for an outstanding contribution to the University. The department scored some pretty impressive marks and showed huge improvement on the previous year. Here’s just a few of their results   NSS (National Student Survey) from 66% to 94%, the highest in the University. DLHE (Destination of Leavers from Higher Education) from 94% to 99%. Recruitment up 26% for BSc Courses and 60% for MSc Sports Therapy. Embedded REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals) into sports courses. Staff development initiatives including succession planning, work shadowing, team and individual coaching. Collaborative development of group values and focus on workplace happiness. The award was presented by London Metropolitan University’s Vice Chancellor Professor John Raftery From left to right: Aldo Lena (MSST), Roger Gossett, Mia Preece (MSST), Professor John Raftery (VC), Raffaella Pontonutti (MSST), Georgia Whitfield (MSST), Joanna Jenkins (MSST), Karl Grainger, Paul Starrs, James Davis and Nick Gardiner (MSST). Congratulations to Nick and all of the Sports Therapy and Sports Science staff – a brilliant achievement.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Greg Downes, a First Year Sports Therapy student at Birmingham City University(BCU), gained some invaluable work experience with the Great Britain Senior Men’s Basketball Team at a camp held in Leicester towards the end of last year. It was a fantastic opportunity for Greg, who was only in his first term at BCU, to spend three days in an elite performance setting. He talked to us about the experience Greg, how did the opportunity come about? It came about through Birmingham City University’s BSc Sports Therapy Programme Leader Peter Thain PhD. Peter works closely with GB Basketball and he has in fact just been appointed to Team England’s medical team for the Commonwealth Game. Through his connections, this opportunity with the senior men’s team was an experience not to be missed. So I applied and I was lucky enough to be selected. How did you find your time spent with the GB team? Originally the experience was organised for two days but I was lucky enough to be invited back for a third, in between my university timetable. All three days were very long and consisted of a hands-on approach. I shadowed Head Physiotherapist Paul Fisher, Physiotherapist Nick McCarthy, Strength and Conditioning Coach Mark Williams and Team Doctor Dane Vishnubala. I hadn’t worked with basketball players so this was a brand new experience for me and it was amazing. What do you feel you have learnt from your experience? For me, to be thrown in at the deep end ito a national team camp in only my first year of studying Sports Therapy, was a big step and certainly pushed me out of my comfort zone. Camp life is very different to clinical life as a sports therapist. The days I experienced were very long and never stopped but the time flew by. For Paul, Nick, Mark and Dane, their duty is non-stop for 24 hours a day, from taking baseline measurements to creating personal strength and conditioning programmes for every player. All of the staff continued to work very hard, giving the best opportunity for every player to be able to pull on the union jack jersey and still be so enthusiastic and passionate every day. What was your highlight of the experience? I experienced so many highlights and it would be unfair to pick out one. Right from the very first day I was included to organise the medical room and measure baseline data of each player as they arrived into camp. This gave me the opportunity to meet each player and strike up a friendship with them. The second day was more hands-on. The team had their first training session of the camp and it was a great experience to be courtside watching professional basketballers and picking Paul and Mark’s brains of what to watch out for and the reasoning behind certain exercises and limitations of each player. Over the course of the next two days, players booked in with me for sports massages. This was one of my favourite highlights as I was able to put my skills to the test but also to have conversations with professional athletes when they were in a relaxed state of mind. I think being able to communicate effectively with the players enhanced both my experience and the player’s experience. I was also very lucky to be invited to eat out with the team for two meals, and I really felt a sense of inclusion with the GB team. Did you manage to watch the team play any games? Within the camp period, two world cup qualifiers were played. I was able to see team GB play their first game of the campaign against a very good Greece side at Leicester Arena. It was my first ever basketball game and it certainly won’t be the last. Team GB fought back in the last 30 seconds to level the scores, only to lose narrowly in extra time. It was fantastic to see the players and staff out on the court representing their countries and knowing that I had helped some of the players during the week. Is basketball a sport that you’re interested in working in for the future? After an amazing experience with a fantastic group of professionals, I would love to be involved with basketball in the future. My knowledge of basketball was very limited, and still is to some degree, but the experience I had with the staff and players made it a sport that I would consider going into in the future. I will certainly keep in touch with Paul, Nick, Mark and Dane through social media and I will definitely put my name forward if any more experiences were to arise with GB Basketball. One piece of advice Paul gave me was to gain as much experience as possible in many different sports and environments. This certainly will not be the last opportunity that I put my name forward for. How are you enjoying life at BCU? Life at Birmingham City University is going very well. I am really enjoying the BSc(Hons) Sports Therapy programme. It is a practical-based course with a lot of content but I am thriving on the challenge to learn and keep hold of every bit of information. The lecturers, Peter Thain, Chelsea Papworth, Tim Leary and Helena Lowe, are all very knowledgeable and consistently offer their help to all students who need it. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Society of Sports Therapists was saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin McGoldrick; one of the Society’s original members. Kevin passed away on the 17th January 2018. He was one of the first to join the Society when it was formed in 1990 and he has been a loyal supporter of it since that time. The Society extends its sincere condolences to all of Kevin’s family, friends and colleagues. We know he will be greatly missed. Professor Graham N. Smith Chairman For and on behalf of The Society of Sports Therapists [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”8/12″][vc_column_text]Society Member Megan Williams was the winner of the 2017 Bruce Hobbs Travelling Scholarship to Virginia Commonwealth University Sports Medicine Clinic, USA. Megan, who is the Lead Therapist at Fit Again Sports Therapy in Cambridge and a Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, was the first Member to undertake this newly created opportunity. We spoke to Megan about her time in Virginia. What inspired you to apply for the VCU Travelling Scholarship? [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”4/12″][vc_single_image image=”1399″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]The VCU Scholarship really captured me as it is combined the treatment of collegiate athletes alongside work in a busy clinic setting. These are both avenues I currently work in within the UK; I am passionate about always developing my practice and so this seemed the perfect opportunity! What was your reaction when you found out you had been selected? It was a very exciting email to receive and one that I’m extremely grateful for! Around the same time, I also found out I’d been appointed as a Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, which was where Bruce Hobbs had worked. This made the experience even more special and I really hope I did him proud.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”4/12″][vc_single_image image=”1403″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”8/12″][vc_column_text]Can you set the scene and tell us a little about the VCU Sports Medicine Clinic It is a fantastic place! The set-up works so well as it encompasses a multi-disciplinary team of Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers and Orthopaedic Surgeons all under one roof. The sports medicine care they can therefore provide is exemplary as there’s such a great level of communication between the staff team. Combine this with outstanding facilities and you are certainly on to a winning formula.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Can you set the scene and tell us a little about the VCU Sports Medicine Clinic It is a fantastic place! The set-up works so well as it encompasses a multi-disciplinary team of Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers and Orthopaedic Surgeons all under one roof. The sports medicine care they can therefore provide is exemplary as there’s such a great level of communication between the staff team. Combine this with outstanding facilities and you are certainly on to a winning formula.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”7/12″][vc_column_text] Can you tell us about how your week was spent and the activities you got involved in. Two hours after landing in Richmond, Liz and I attended a soccer match… before I retired to bed for the night! On the Sunday, we went to a volleyball game; an amazing atmosphere to experience. During the week, Bob picked me up at 7.30am each morning so we arrived at the clinic in time for patients from 8am. Bob and Liz always had very busy schedules. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”5/12″][vc_single_image image=”1404″ img_size=”large”][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text] On the Tuesday, I shadowed Dr Loughran in clinic. It was really interesting to see the examination and assessment performed by an Orthopaedic Surgeon and he ensured I was involved in discussing conservative management strategies with the patients. The next day, I went into the Operating Room with him, which I loved! It was amazing! I saw three surgeries (biceps tenodesis and rotator cuff repair; lateral menisectomy; ACL reconstruction and medial meniscus repair). I was in awe of Dr Loughran’s work, especially the moment when the semitendinosus and gracilis tendons were cut and prepared to create the graft for the ACL. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”4/12″][vc_single_image image=”1400″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”8/12″][vc_column_text] Can you tell us about how your week was spent and the activities you got involved in. Two hours after landing in Richmond, Liz and I attended a soccer match… before I retired to bed for the night! On the Sunday, we went to a volleyball game; an amazing atmosphere to experience. During the week, Bob picked me up at 7.30am each morning so we arrived at the clinic in time for patients from 8am. Bob and Liz always had very busy schedules. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text]Friday evening was time for Basketball. The crowd, the live band and the win made it a special event to witness. I’ve spent a season with a National League Division One basketball team before which I really enjoyed and so to experience it the American way was amazing. More sport was packed into the weekend with the Virginia State vs Virginia Union American football game on the Saturday and a women’s soccer tournament on the Sunday. Luckily, the incidence rate of injuries during the matches I attended was fairly low although there was a suspected PCL rupture during the American football, unfortunately. Is the clinic just for students or the public as well? What were the main types of injuries you saw? The clinic provides all the sports medicine treatment and rehabilitation for the VCU athletes as well as the general community. As with all clinic settings, the variety of injuries was therefore very varied. The most common types I saw were ACL reconstructions and rotator cuff repairs. Did you notice any similarities or differences between approaches to clinic life as compared to the UK? Their ethos and love for their work was definitely comparable to mine. The clinic set-up itself was much more open plan than what I’m used to in the UK but it made it a really friendly, sociable environment to be in. The majority of treatment methods were similar although I’ve never seen a plunger being used to mobilise the patella before! In the UK, I tend to treat a lot of overuse conditions especially in long distance runners and triathletes whereas a large amount of the cases were more acute/post-operative at VCU.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]It sounds like you were kept very busy – did you have any downtime? After work on some of the days, I was taken out for dinner which was lovely and it meant I got to see some of the surrounding areas. I can also recommend the ice cream, cideries, pumpkin beer and Southern style brunch! What do you think was the biggest challenge you faced while there? Trying to remember to refrain from saying the word ‘pitchside’ as they didn’t know what I was talking about! What have you gained from your visit to VCU? It’s easy to fall into a routine when working and stop developing as a therapist. Of course this is something I wish to never do and so meeting and collaborating with like minded therapists was fantastic and gave me inspiration to research different avenues after hearing their clinical reasoning for treatments. The trip confirmed how much I love being a Sports Therapist. I was excited to come back to work, share my new found knowledge and start treating my athletes again.   Is there anything you have learnt that you’ve been able to use in your clinic in the UK? Yes, absolutely. Exercise rehabilitation is always a huge interest for me with this having been the focus for my MPhil research so to see some fresh ideas from excellent therapists was always welcomed and now feature in my practice. My time in the Operating Room gave me an even greater insight to be able to assist my patients before and after they go through such procedures as I can now relate to their experience. The management of concussion is a key topic at the moment and so to compare their management to ours was interesting; I saw them using some vestibular therapy exercises with great effect. If you had your time again would you do anything differently? The scholarship was incredible and so unique to be able to offer such a vast amount of activities with the multi-disciplinary team. There was so much to fit into the time but perhaps I could have been with the Athletic Trainers for longer before the games started to see their pre-match treatments and strapping. Maybe I can use this as an excuse to make another trip over there! Give 3 reasons, if possible, as to why you think members should apply for this Travelling Scholarship. I’d recommend it to everyone a) to benefit from the exceptional experience of seeing the intertwined work of the Physical Therapists, Athletic Trainers and Orthopaedic Surgeons, with all clinicians having the same goal of ensuring the athletes can be at the top of their game b) to witness some outstanding facilities and be totally encased within the VCU community c) and most importantly, to develop as a Sports Therapist by sharing ideas and learning alternative skills to ensure we can constantly drive the profession forwards as led by the Society of Sports Therapists.. What was your highlight? Can I say all of it? From the people I met, to seeing the facilities, to the brilliant athletes, it really was the best experience I could have hoped for. I would like to say a huge thank you to the Society of Sports Therapists and all the staff at VCU for making this possible. A thank you also goes to Michael Messer who was an instrumental part of developing the programme for me before he moved to Duke University. I did see him on my first day which was great albeit brief! Thank you all for making this experience possible. Professor Graham N. Smith who was instrumental in setting up the Travelling Scholarship said: ‘The Society of Sports Therapists has had a long relationship with Virginia Commonwealth University and it was really good to have the opportunity to arrange for one of our members to spend time with friends and colleagues and benefit from their knowledge and expertise. We hope that this is the first of many. I would like to congratulate Megan on being such a great ambassador and thank everyone at Virginia Commonwealth University Sports Medicine Clinic, especially Michael, Bob, Liz and Dr Loughran, for helping us to put this exciting collaboration in place.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column width=”4/12″][vc_single_image source=”featured_image” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”8/12″][vc_column_text]University of Windsor Serves Up a Spell-Binding Trip for Zoe Hughes-Jones Zoe Hughes-Jones was the 9th winner of The Society of Sports Therapists Student Travelling Scholarship to the University of Windsor in Canada. We heard about the first part of Zoe’s trip towards the end of last year and if you missed it you can catch up and read about it here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text] Zoe was based for the first part of her trip at the Green Shield Sports Therapy Clinic, University of Windsor. While Athletic Therapist Kathy Harvie has now retired from the University Clinic, she is an integral and important part of the programme, not only as one of the interview panel but as the person who organises the schedule for the successful candidate, for when they are in Canada. Kathy and her husband John also hosted Zoe while she was in Canada, just as they had done for the previous 8 winners. Kathy has without doubt been instrumental in ensuring the longevity of this amazing trans-Atlantic relationship and for which The Society of Sports Therapists is extremely grateful. Dave Stoute, a long-time colleague of Kathy’s now heads up the Clinic and he and his fellow Athletic Therapists proved tremendous mentors for Zoe. Following her time in Windsor, Zoe moved up to Toronto where Dr Loriann Hynes from York University and her family took up the mantle for the second part of her trip and they too created a wonderful programme for Zoe. Here are Zoe’s reflections on what turned out to be yet another memorable Travelling Scholarship. Can you describe how you felt on being introduced to the Green Shield Sports Therapy team and the University Gridiron football players. When I was first introduced to the Athletic Therapy team here at the University of Windsor, I knew it was going to be a fantastic 5 weeks with them and I couldn’t wait to get started. They were all extremely welcoming and have offered me endless amounts of support throughout my time here. My first encounter with the football players was the first day of camp. I had to report to the clinic at 6:30am so that they could be taped in time to be out on the field at 8am. This was when I first learnt how to tape an ankle the ‘Canadian way’. I was standing in the taping room and a large group of players all came walking in; and these guys aren’t small!! It was an interesting moment but they all started talking to me straight away; I think the English accent helped! Taping is very important to football players and part of Canadian football heritage.  How did your taping skills stand up to the rigours of double practices? What new taping skills did you learn? At the beginning, it was a case of learning the new taping techniques as to how the players liked it. Most of the older players were reluctant to let me tape them at the beginning as they had specific routines and liked certain people to tape their ankles. I made sure I got feedback from the players when I was taping so I could improve as I knew my taping technique was not the best to begin with. However, after double practices day in day out, I soon picked up the rhythm as we had many ankles to tape every practice. After a few weeks, players were asking me to tape their ankles which was great, to know they had confidence in me as a therapist. I learnt how to tape ankles, thumbs, wrists, knees, feet, shoulders; come to think of it, pretty much everything as football players are always needing something taped! These skills are definitely something I will be bringing back to the UK. How hard was it to establish confidence in the players to accept you as a competent therapist? Establishing trust between therapist and player is an important aspect of what we do. This is a process that takes time wherever you may go, but the football players were really open in allowing me to treat them. The more they saw me work and help their team mates, the more they warmed to me and before I knew it, players were coming to me for help every day! Was there such a thing as a typical day? There was a rough outline for a typical day at the office, but every day was also very different! So, camp lasted for approximately 2 weeks which involved taping from 6:30am, out on the field for 8am until 10:30am, back in to do treatments, a very quick lunch break followed by a second lot of taping at 2pm, back out on the field for 4pm-6pm then back in for more treatment or ice tubs! This was a very busy 2 weeks but it was the best way to be integrated as it was all go go go! During the training camp, it was first come first served in the clinic but this then changed to booking appointments afterwards as other sports were starting to come back. This then meant that Dave and Natalie, the other Athletic Therapist, were very busy with additional varsity sports, so I tended to look after the football players. It was great to do this and I got to learn a lot as I was seeing many different injuries. If I needed any advice or guidance, Dave or Natalie were always there. I felt like I was part of the team straight away and I am very grateful for that. Every Friday, Mary Brannagan would come into the clinic at the University to treat the football players. Mary is a top Physiotherapist in Canada and I loved watching her work. She is sensational at what she does but it is also very perplexing to watch as the treatments she gives are so different to anything I’ve seen before. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] You spent time pitch side and court side with the football team and the basketball team. Were your sports trauma skills called into action at all? So, the majority of my time was spent with the football team due to their vast roster of approximately 85 players. I was at every practice and every game; both home and away. I spent some time with basketball and soccer for the additional experience but not much action as a therapist! My sports trauma skills were called into action most days with the football players. I had to deal with dislocated shoulders, dislocated elbows, AC joint injuries, sprained ankles, broken/sprained fingers, thumbs and wrists, concussions, contusions, turf burns and much more. I thoroughly enjoyed being tested all the time as in England I spend the majority of my time with soccer players where it is mostly ankle and knee injuries. Do the basketball players wear much tape? Do any wear ankle braces? From my experience, basketball players like their ankles taped, but starting from a higher point on the leg compared to the football players. This didn’t really change the technique, you just had to start your anchors higher up! St Clair College, Windsor is also a ‘must’ visit on this programme – how did you spend your time there? I was fortunate enough to spend a day with Kim Stroesser at St Clair College which I thoroughly enjoyed! Kim is Manager of Athletic Therapy. The facilities there were only a few years old so there were plenty of new tools to play with. The day before going to St Clair, there was a massive rain storm leading to severe flooding in the Windsor area so it meant a lot of the sports were cancelled due to the excess surface water. However, I was still able to experience working in the clinic with a handful of patients and also going out pitch-side for softball which was a new experience for me. Did your trip to the Windsor Spitfires live up to expectation- I’m sure you had heard a lot about them? I spent a day at the Windsor Spitfires with Athletic Therapist Aaron Boose and got to experience hockey for the first time. It was amazing!! You don’t appreciate how quick and how crazy the game actually is until you are sitting on the sidelines with players being slammed up against the wall in front of you and hockey pucks flying everywhere, so you have to duck out of the way or risk being hit by a flying lump of rubber travelling at speeds of up to 100 mph! Although being in the hockey rink was extremely cold, I got such a buzz from being in that environment that I forgot about the temperature most of the time! Joey Garland was unfortunately not present that day as he is on paternity leave until the end of the year. They also gave me a hockey puck to take home as a memento! You visited the Loaring Physiotherapy Clinic in Tecumseh- how was your time there? I had heard some amazing things about the Loaring Physiotherapy Clinic and I was not disappointed after the day I spent there. The whole team was extremely welcoming and I had many conversations about the differences between the Canadian and English ways of therapy. I spent some time with everyone who was working that day including Charlotte Loaring herself who is a physiotherapist and owner of the clinic. Her team with Derek, Dirouhi, Kaitlin, Dave, Sharon, Jen and Fran (just to name a few) were all fantastic at answering my questions and showing me what they did. It was a different experience from working with varsity athletes as their patients were everyday people just wanting to be pain free. One patient had the most impact on me – unfortunately I cannot reveal much due to confidentiality reasons- but this person had been in a life changing accident, was very lucky to be alive but was still fighting and working hard to improve their quality of life despite the severe injuries they had sustained. It really brings you back down to earth and that definitely reminded me of why I chose to be in this line of work. For the second part of your trip you moved on to Toronto Yes, I took the train from Windsor to Oakville where Professor Loriann Hynes picked me up from the GO station (train station). Loriann is the Athletic Therapy Programme Coordinator at the University. We then went back to her house where I met her husband Chris and their two daughters Taylor and Kenzie. Oh and not forgetting their energetic Portuguese water dog, Lago! My first day involved hopping on a bus from just outside their house, over to the GO station and onto a train to Toronto. That was the day I visited the National Ballet of Canada with their therapist Paul Papoutsakis who was sensational. That was a different experience to say the least. I think I was just most shocked as to how flexible the dancers were compared to the football players back in Windsor! I assisted with a few treatments as they had a full schedule which was also helped by one of their student therapists, Maui. I managed to talk to a few of their dancers and I was in awe of how athletic they were! Day 2 consisted of an early start and a trip to York University with Loriann. In the morning I sat in on some of the Athletic Therapy classes followed by a few hours spent in their clinic. I was given the opportunity to talk to their student therapists about what I do back in England and then answered the many questions they fired at me. It was crazy to think that I was in their shoes this time 3 years ago and now I am the one talking up at the front of class to them! Daunting to begin with, but I loved it! Now let’s see, Day 3…. It was probably one of my favourite days in Toronto as I got to spend the afternoon and evening with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; a professional Canadian Football Team. I couldn’t believe how welcoming everyone was and I loved every minute of it! The players included me in some of their banter (all about England of course) and they were all so friendly and understanding of my position. Being pitch-side for a professional football game was definitely an experience I will never forget! I helped with setting up for the game, making sure the players were ready to go out on field and then assisted the therapists during the game with anything they or the players needed. I will be forever grateful that Claire and her team allowed me to work with them for that game and their student therapist Amanda who showed me the ropes. The Saturday, or Day 4, consisted of a chilled morning after the late night game, then Loriann and Kenzie took me to downtown Oakville which was beautiful! We got ice cream and brownie cookies (recommended by Kenzie) and walked along the river with views of Toronto and the CN tower. There were also some guys on jet skiis doing tricks; one of them fell off which made us all cry with laughter for quite a few minutes! We then had a BBQ at one of their friend’s houses and I was also introduced to Ice Wine in chocolate glasses; amazing and would highly recommend it! Sunday was my last day with the Hynes family so they took me to Niagara Falls! WOW! That was such an experience and it was absolutely beautiful. Taylor, Kenzie and I went behind the falls on a little excursion which was hilarious as we all got a bit wet! We went into the arcade and then got poutine (another Canadian speciality) from Smokes Poutinerie. It consists of fries, gravy, cheese curds and then a selection of toppings such as pulled pork, bacon, beef and so many more. I got the bacon double cheeseburger poutine – needless to say it did not disappoint. In addition to downtown Oakville and Niagara Falls, I also managed to explore a bit of Toronto. I walked past the Rogers Centre where the Toronto Blue Jays play (baseball), over to the CN tower and down the riverfront which was picturesque on such a sunny day. For the first part of your trip you were staying with Kathy Harvie and husband John and of course Andy and Amos –  tell us about some top moments I had so many good moments whilst staying with Kathy and John. Kathy’s cooking is just out of this world (I still think she should write her own cook book) and that was accompanied by John’s talents on the BBQ. Homemade Latte’s on the front porch most mornings were definitely a perk and I was even treated to a slice of cake or peach galette that Kathy had made the day before. Andy and Amos were the cutest, most loving dogs and were always excited to see me when I got home from work. One thing they didn’t like was a ginger cat that used to lay under the bush at the front of the house; they would bark like crazy to scare it away! We had many discussions over food and laughed at the most random of things so there was never a dull moment in that house. Name three things that made you think or say “wow” during your trip? There are far more than three things that I could comment on here, but my top three would be the amount of tape they use, the first football game and being pitch-side at a professional football game. So, the amount of tape that has been used since day one of camp has been crazy! We can easily get through a box of tape per practice which is something you don’t tend to see in sports back in England. I couldn’t believe how much taping they would do at the beginning but having been there for 5 weeks, I can now see why; football takes its toll on the body! Secondly, my first football game with the Windsor Lancers – I cannot describe how much I loved that day from pre-game taping, to watching the players run out of the tunnel to a pre-mixed song just like on TV, to then being pitch-side. I must admit, I was rather confused at the rules of the game to begin with, but the players taught me the basics and I learnt more and more every game. I loved every game after that just as much as the first! Last but not least, spending the day with a professional football team; the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, was just like being in another world. The facilities were sensational, the players and staff were so welcoming and full of banter of which I was involved in plenty with the English accent! [/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] I guess listing 2 inspirational moments will be hard too I think everyone who has previously been to Canada on this internship will agree with me when I say that Dave’s taping skills are out of this world. When a player came to you asking for a tape job that Dave had done on them previously, all other therapists would look at each other and say whilst laughing, “another Dave special”. He comes up with the craziest of tape jobs and if I can tape even half as well as Dave can in my career, I will be happy! It was like watching an artist at work and I found myself mesmerised many times whilst watching him tape. My second inspirational moment would have to be the trip in its entirety. This experience has inspired me to become the best therapist I can be and I will be forever grateful to everyone who made it so enjoyable. Is there anything you would do differently if you had your time again I honestly do not think I would change anything about my time in Canada. I have had the best time with some amazing people and would not change it for anything! I just wish it could have been for longer! Why do you think this is a good thing for a graduate sports therapist who is a Member of the Society to do– how do you think it will help you in the future? There are no words to describe how invaluable this experience has been for me. It was such a fantastic opportunity and I have learnt so much from everyone I have worked with in both Windsor and Toronto. I cannot encourage our graduates enough to at least apply for this opportunity; I promise you will not regret it! I have a newly found love for football and can definitely say I have made some friends for life whilst creating a Canadian family over here. I am eager to put everything I have learnt to good use now I am back in England and I will definitely be going back to Canada. I have also caught myself staying up late to watch the CFL and NFL games on TV – they officially have me hooked! There are many people with whom I have spent time with whilst being in Canada that I would like to thank. Dave, Natalie & Adam – Green Shield Sports Therapy Clinic, University of Windsor For the endless amount of support that you have offered me as therapists and the constant laughs we have had whilst working at the University. I cannot thank you guys enough for having me in your clinic and letting me experience the Canadian way of sports/athletic therapy. I have learnt invaluable amounts from you all. University of Windsor Lancers Football (Players & Staff) – You are by far the biggest squad of players and staff I have ever worked with (approx. 85 and 15 respectively)! You guys let me practise my taping on you, even when it wasn’t the best at the beginning, but you always let me practise and thus allowing my taping skills to progress. Thank you to the coaching staff for making me feel a part of the team every day at both practice and games. For the endless laughs and celebrations on the side lines to learning the rules of football (which was not easy)! You all made me feel so welcome from day 1 and I will be forever grateful. Matt – To my right hand man on the sidelines, a great student therapist and a great guy! We spent pretty much every day together taping ankles, covering turf burns and dealing with the high demands of football. I wish you all the best in your endeavours on becoming an Athletic Therapist; your hard work will pay off! Kathy & John – I cannot thank you two enough for everything you have done for me. Without you both, this opportunity would not have been possible. You looked after me for 5 weeks, which I know couldn’t have been easy having someone else live in your home, but you treated me like family and that is something I will never forget. Professor Graham Smith & Maggie McNerney – Graham, I remember when you first came to the University of Chichester to talk about this opportunity; everything you said about it was so accurate! An invaluable learning experience with some outstanding people; thank you so much to you both for choosing me on interview day and offering me endless support ever since. Loriann, Chris, Taylor & Kenzie – What a week I spent with you guys! I remember how shy the girls were when I first got there – that didn’t last long. By the end of the week, I felt as though I had gained two new sisters! Thank you to Loriann and Chris for organising everything for me from transport to excursions; I thoroughly enjoyed watching Loriann play hockey and the girls play soccer. My time with you all will truly be cherished. I would also like to thank the following people for their time and support during my stay in Canada: University of Windsor Women’s Soccer Claire Toffelmire (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) Paul Papoutsakis (National Ballet of Canada) Kim Stroesser (St Clair College) Aaron Boose (Windsor Spitfires) Charlotte Loaring (Loaring Physiotherapy) Mary Brannagan (Physiotherapist) Eric, Mike and Mona (University of Windsor) THANK YOU to my new Canadian family !!!!!!! Professor Graham N Smith, Chairman of the Society of Sports Therapists said: ‘Our thanks once again to all our Canadian friends who played such a big part in making this such a brilliant and pleasurable experience for Zoe. The Society of Sports Therapists is very proud of the relationship that has been built up over the last 9 years with so many colleagues but in particular those at the University of Windsor, and especially Kathy Harvie and Dave Stoute and also Joey Garland (Windsor Spitfires), Charlotte Loaring (Loaring Physiotherapy) and of course Loriann Hynes in Toronto. We are proud of the relationship we have and also of our graduates.’ [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Society of Sports Therapists Member Peter Thain has been appointed to the Medical Team for Team England – Commonwealth Games Senior Men’s Basketball Programme and it promises to be a busy time for him as he is also the Programme Lead at Birmingham City University. We caught up with Peter to hear what he had to say about his journey en route to The Commonwealth Games in Australia next April. How did you first get into working in sport? It was all due to a statistics test. Seriously! The Head of Sports Medicine for Colchester United FC, Tony Flynn, was looking for some help with a project he was running. Tony contacted Joel Harris at the University of Hertfordshire, who in turn asked me if I could help. After a few days on SPSS, Tony then kindly offered me the opportunity to gain work experience with the club, which I gladly accepted. At the end of the year, Tony knew of an opening at AFC Hornchurch, and that was my first job in football where I stayed for 4 seasons. How did you get involved with Basketball? I first started working for Basketball England in September 2013 after I applied for a job which had been advertised on Twitter. At the time, there were already therapists (Sports Therapists and Physiotherapists) working with the national teams (U15, U16, U17, U18), and my role was to be a ‘bank therapist.’ If I’m honest, I remember thinking that it would be great to have national level sport on my CV, but I didn’t think I would be called up. However, within a few months, I was working at the Regional Performance Centre (RPC) Tournaments and covering National Camps at Lilleshall. This was an inspiring place to work as I was surrounded by fantastic facilities, as well as national level athletes from a variety of sports. In the summer of 2014, I found myself flying out to Croatia and Portugal with the U16 and U18 National Teams respectively. These teams compete in the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) European Championships each year and there are many overseas camps in the build up to the Championship. I was covering the permanent therapists who were unable to make the respective overseas camps as they were running their own injury clinics as their full time employment, and therefore were often unable to fulfil all the commitments with Basketball England. This was great experience for me, as it was my first overseas assignment with a team. On these trips you are usually the only member of medical staff and therefore you are responsible for everything. As time progressed I was receiving more offers to travel with the teams, but I was unable to commit as I was a full time lecturer. However, I was fortunate to be offered the permanent role with the U15 squad. As this is the youngest National Team, the camps are limited to 3 times per year, finishing with a tournament in Denmark, each June. This is a role that I still hold today, as it fits in well with my full time employment at Birmingham City University. How has Basketball England changed? The Sport and Exercise Medicine support at Basketball England has changed dramatically since I started. At my first camp, there was minimal medical and musculoskeletal screening, and there was no strength and conditioning support. Paul Fisher, the Head of Sports Medicine for Basketball England has progressed the provision dramatically over the past few years. Now we are in a situation where all players are medically screened by the Great Britain Doctor prior to the first National Camp, as well as SCAT5 concussion assessments, and musculoskeletal screening. All therapists must be trained in trauma management to ensure we can deal with complex situations that may arise. We have a Strength and Conditioning Coach assigned to each National Team, with all players given bespoke programmes based on the findings of the screening and performance testing we carry out. Basketball England continually looks to improve and this is evident by the latest work being carried out by the Basketball Development Model (BDM). This review process aims to strengthen all parts of the game, to ultimately enhance the country’s chances of competing – and winning – on the global stage. As the Lead for the Research Group, we are currently monitoring injuries and loading at Advanced Apprenticeship in Sporting Excellence (AASE) sites across the UK. The aim of the initial research is to study the epidemiology of English Basketball injuries, and to identify any relationship between loading (training and match) and injury in basketball. This is an exciting project as we look to lay the foundations for a research culture within basketball. How did you find out that you had been selected to go with Team England? Was it a surprise? I was recently invited to apply for the position with the Senior Men’s Commonwealth Games Team. The therapists working within Basketball England are excellent, and it was an honour to be invited to apply. When I received the telephone call offering me the position I was elated and it was a great surprise. It is not often such opportunities present and I am incredibly honoured and excited to work at such a global event. What are the plans leading up to the Games – are the players now on special schedules? Tell us a bit about training/where that happens and what your role is. We had our first camp back in November at the National Basketball Performance Centre in Manchester. Here all players were medically screened by the doctor as well as SCAT5 concussion assessments, and musculoskeletal screening taking place. The majority of the players play in the British Basketball League (BBL) or overseas, and it is the middle of their season. Therefore we have to be careful with prescription of strength and condition work and we are in constant contact with their respective clubs. Our main focus is to monitor the players’ daily loading and wellness scores from a distance, via a custom built online platform, and to offer any support to the clubs and players who may require it. These baseline measures are fundamental, as they will give us a good insight into each player’s wellness scoring behaviour, and allow us to better prescribe loading once in competition in Australia. Do you have an MDT approach or are you doing most things? When in camps and in the lead up to competition, we have a Strength and Conditioning Coach who I work closely with. We also have access to the GB Basketball Doctor should we need medical advice. However, when we travel to the Commonwealth Games, it will just be me on the plane. Although, once we reach the athletes’ village, we will be assigned a Doctor and also be joined by Commonwealth Games England support staff. What equipment do you need to take? How do you organise the medical kit and medicines? The tricky part is working out logistics of medical supplies. As we shall be away for a month, I will need to take a few suitcases full of athletic tape! It is a serious consideration, and we have a member of Basketball England over in Australia now working out logistics, as it will most likely will be cheaper to source some supplies in Australia, rather than shipping across. We are also playing in many venues across Australia, so we are currently mapping out Emergency Action Plans, and identifying local Emergency Departments to ensure we have all situations covered as best we can. It is also important that any over the counter medications I may take are all conforming to the AntiDoping Regulations. What would be your top tips for a student or new Graduate Sports Therapist wanting to work in sport? Watch Jim Carrey in ‘Yes Man’. Sports Therapy is a tough profession, and if anyone offers you an opportunity, no matter how small or far, do your very best to say, ‘Yes’! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] University of Gloucestershire Graduate Katy Stephens is in the final stages of completing her Master in Sports Therapy. In talking to Katy it is clear she has a passion for learning and a burning desire to continually push herself to develop her knowledge and skills. Her work experience opportunities in her undergraduate degree programme have provided a strong foundation for her and she is now pushing the boundaries in a totally different area; that of concussion in equestrian sport. Katy, you had some great work experience opportunities while undertaking your Sports Therapy degree. Two in particular stand out: the first was at Gloucester Rugby Club where you were an intern – how was that? During the summer of my first year an email was sent out to students about helping Gloucester Rugby with soft tissue management during their preseason and I thought it would be a great opportunity. I spent one day a week at Gloucester Rugby through my second year and asked if I would be able to apply for the internship for my third year. I was lucky enough to be accepted for the entirety of my third year, I thoroughly enjoyed it and was so grateful to the Medical Team for being so supportive and patient with me. I still cover charity games at Kingsholm (Gloucester’s Ground) and I remain in contact with the Gloucester Medical Team. When I graduated, I moved across to semi-professional rugby league. The second opportunity was with GB and England Ice Hockey. GB and England ice hockey held off-ice camps at the University through the summer. We were involved in pre-season screening, fitness testing, concussion baseline testing and education. We worked with different age groups, from 14 to 16 year olds. It was really enjoyable and great for me to learn about another sport I had not been involved with before. You decided to continue with your studies undertaking an MSc Professional Practice in Sports Therapy? I wasn’t ready to stop learning, I had six months away from university and wanted to keep improving the way I handled more complex cases. I was also keen to do a longer research project, I like a challenge! Your Masters research topic is ‘Pony Club concussion.’ Why this topic and where did the interest in Equestrian Sport come from? Having worked in Rugby since I first started at university, I have an acute awareness of concussion and how protocols are constantly evolving. As someone who has grown up competing in equestrian disciplines it dawned on me how often I had been concussed in the past without anyone checking on me. I started to look into youth equestrian sport and what is currently in place to protect young horse riders and I was disappointed by the lack of information that was readily available. What research have you conducted to date and what it has involved? I am just in the final stages of writing the research up. The first step of research was to find out what Pony Club parents knew about concussion; an overriding theme was that they didn’t understand how severe concussion could be if dealt with poorly and that they relied on Pony Club coaches to give them advice when it was necessary. My research currently is based around what coaches know about concussion and once given information, from a presentation that I delivered myself, how long are they able to retain that information. You shadowed a doctor who is involved with horse racing at Worcester racecourse. How did this opportunity come about? Tell us about your time there. I would like to work in jockey rehabilitation in the future, so reached out to a well-known jockey doctor in the area and he was more than happy to take me to Worcester Racecourse for the day. I was lucky enough to meet multiple members of the medical team on a race day, learnt about their emergency action plan and zoomed around in the Doctors four wheeled drive vehicles following the race (great fun!). I felt fortunate to be able to discuss concussion with one of the Physiotherapists who is specialising in jockey rehabilitation, particularly concussion in race jockeys. You have your own clinic – are there plans to expand and specialise with equestrian athletes? I have been running my own clinic in Gloucester for 18 months now and I love it. My plan is most certainly to expand over time, but I am in no rush to do that, there are still so many areas of therapy I am really excited to explore. I would like to work with more equestrian athletes as it is my area of expertise and different to so many sports, due to the involvement of an animal. What does Sport Therapy mean to you and what is the one thing you would like everyone to know about Graduate Sports Therapists who are Members of the Society of Sports Therapists? We really enjoy our job; we enjoy the cold rainy days at the side of the pitch and the muddy wounds to clean. I love that I learn new things everyday and that I am lucky enough to meet new people all the time. One thing… we’re incredibly professional and really good at what we do! [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]