Delegates in Amsterdam heard veterans of several major sporting events discussing how physiotherapy can best capitalise on them.
Lynn Booth, the UK’s clinical lead for physical therapies at the London Olympic Games, said that volunteer physios at the 2012 games were subject to strict criteria. But they could benefit greatly, she said, ‘especially students, who usually don’t get to work single-handed or have to make decisions on their own’.
Helpful experience
Edwenia O’Malley, a recently qualified physiotherapist from Ireland, said that the experience gained would be especially helpful in the current economic climate, when jobs were difficult to secure.
Students in Ireland regularly volunteered at major Gaelic games competitions, and events such as the Dublin Marathon, Ms O’Malley said.
‘Treating patients on the spot and making decisions on referring, for example, is great for raising awareness of the profession at a smaller level, but it’s also great experience for us.’
Career pathway
Ms Booth said another benefit was the transfer of ideas from sport into regular physio practice.
With so many opportunities for physios to work in sports, from grassroots to elite, she said, there needed to be a clearer career pathway, and a major sporting event could help establish this.
‘We hope the London Games in 2012 is where we start to see a proper career path forming for those who want to move into sports physiotherapy,’ she said.
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