News - Page 1

Rehabber, Samantha Parsons supported our tennis stars at the Paris Olympics 2024

Samantha Parsons, BASRaT registered Sport Rehabilitator and Director of Arch Health and Fitness in Kew played a key role in supporting GB tennis in Paris. Sam shares her story with us.

“I had the honour of being part of the Great Britain tennis medical team at the Olympic Games, following my experience at the National Tennis Centre and with the Davis Cup Team.”

Preparation for team requirements

"Significant preparation was undertaken by the GB Tennis Team Manager, Iain Bates with the British Olympic Association to anticipate the team's requirements. The BOA offered 3 staff training sessions prior to the games to ensure all medical and administrative staff were adequately prepared, we also engaged with representatives from Physio Lab and Rock Tape to provide exposure to cutting-edge equipment and products whilst also allowing for networking with professionals across a variety of other sporting disciplines.

Together with fellow physiotherapists Shane Annun and Will Herbert, we were adequately prepared regarding tournament format, venues. A facilities app enabled us to manage reservations for massage beds and gym spaces.

 One of the most important parts of our preparation involved ensuring the team had the supplies needed for the duration of the tournament.  Ranging from tape and S&C kit to detailed nutritional supplements in line with each of the players’ requirements, coordinated by the GB Tennis Team nutritionist, Dan Ellis."

Accommodation, cardboard beds and food!

"Adorned in the iconic stripes of adidas, our home away from home was nestled within the athletes’ village where the unlikely cosiness of cardboard beds took us by surprise. We were fortunate to have another Team GB venue 20 minutes away from the village which housed additional facilities for athlete preparation and allowed nearest and dearest to see the athletes.  Thankfully, the culinary experience at the GB lodge was somewhat superior to the offerings at the Olympic Village due to the efforts of the very talented Team GB exclusive chef."

Daily roles and heat management

"Each day consisted of checking the requirements of individual players and coordinating travel, court practice times, warm ups, gym and treatment requests both before, during and after practice and matches.

The days were relatively long depending on what court times we were allocated, but we often left the village at 8.30am and rarely returning before 9pm in the evening with additional treatment in the village beyond that time if required (sometimes until 1.30am).  Despite the early rain, conditions were soon verging on the tropical with temperatures court-side reaching over 34 degrees, an additional aspect to be managed.  With that in mind, it became essential that each player made good use of the ice baths and sleep pods to maximise their individual recovery needs."

Medical Facilities 

"We benefitted from the robust backing of Team GB's medical staff and had swift access to medical services when needed. A poly clinic was located within the village for MRI and advanced medical needs. Our tennis doctor, Guy Evans, and the team at Fortius were also on hand back in the UK if needed.

Whilst results didn’t go as well as was hoped, each of the players performed with extraordinary spirit and certainly relished the Olympic Experience, most notably with Andy Murray concluding his prolific sporting journey.

The experience was both remarkable and rewarding, and thankfully now a family holiday beckons!"

Sam is pictured with GB Tennis stars Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury who have nine Grand Slam doubles titles between them.

Commitment needed for rehabilitation to be an equal pillar of health care

BASRaT is a member of the Community Rehabilitation Alliance (CRA).

The alliance comprises more than 60 charities and professional bodies who are all committed to improving commissioning, planning and delivery of rehabilitation. It is in this shared endeavour that we have signed this letter to each of the three political party leaders clearly setting out why it is vital that the next government must prioritise and invest in community rehabilitation services.

The alliance’s priorities are: 

·         to gain political commitment to delivering universal access to rehabilitation to meet needs 

·         to improve the quality of rehabilitation through new models, better data collection, planning, commissioning and delivery of services. 

It is vital that rehabilitation forms a core part of NHS future planning. The next government must make a commitment to rehabilitation as an equal pillar of health care to medicines and surgery. That’s why we’ve signed this letter as part of the Community Rehabilitation Alliance.

#RightToRehab

Jerry Okoye (REH003457) Removal from the register.

Following the conclusion of the Fitness to Practise process, Jerry Okoye (REH003457) has been removed from the register by the Registrar. More information is available here. 

If you wish to contact BASRaT in relation to this case, please contact Oliver Coburn on registrar@basrat.org 

Musculoskeletal Health Inequalities and Deprivation report

ARMA’s ‘Act Now’; Report on MSK Health Inequalities and Deprivation The Act Now: Musculoskeletal Health Inequalities and Deprivation report from ARMA highlights the impact of social and economic determinants of health on those living with MSK conditions, recognising that people in deprived areas face far greater challenges in managing their MSK conditions and accessing quality MSK services.

The report aims to address the drivers of poor musculoskeletal health acting on people living in deprivation and bring a focus to the part health services across the UK can play to address inequalities.

The report provides practical advice and signposting for health systems, MSK services and practitioners in a position to shift the dial in the right direction and implement innovative strategies to overcome barriers to healthcare access and tackle unequal health outcomes in MSK health.

Key recommendations from the report include:

• Getting closer to and knowing your community better – solutions such as moving services into community spaces make them more accessible to under-served groups from deprived areas.

• Developing shared ownership of services through engagement and co-production.

• Using data to identify, tackle and monitor barriers to access and unequal health outcomes.

• Targeting intensive and tailored supported self-management where need is greatest.

You can read the full report here -  https://arma.uk.net/msk-health-inequalities-equality/

BASRaT at the 7th IOC World Conference

BASRaT recently attended the IOC World Conference on the Prevention of Injury & Illness in Sport over in Monaco. BASRaT CEO and Chair of the Executive Committee are pictured along with the Presidents of the NATA, CATA, ARTI and WFATT.

In addition to meeting with heads of governing bodies, it was a fantastic opportunity to work with the World Federation of Athletic Training and Therapy and our International Arrangement partners to continue to develop our professions both locally and globally. Sharing strategies, experience and expertise, we are working together to ensure that Sport Rehabilitation and Athletic Therapy and Training are a profession for the future; safe, effective and contemporary.

With more countries interested in joining the International Arrangement, the future for us as a global profession is bright, it will be an exciting couple of decades!