UCLan PaST adds more experience to the team

New staff member David Rhodes brings a wealth of experience to the UCLan PaST team.

Following a successful career as a secondary school PE Teacher and a Head of Department, David retrained in Sports Therapy in 2008, enrolling onto the MSc programme at UCLan.

He subsequently spent four years as a Senior Lecturer at Edge Hill University and has worked in a variety of elite, professional and semi-professional sports including football, rugby league and boxing.

David has also worked within private practice treating a variety of patients from sedentary individuals, recreational sports people and professional athletes.

He has a keen research interest in preventative strategies, conditioning and rehabilitation in sport.

In 2012 he enrolled to complete a PhD, titled Localised and Soccer Specific Fatigue and the 72 hour Temporal Pattern, which he is hoping to complete in 2016. David is a full member of the Society of Sports Therapy, GTC member and a HEA fellow.

Student campaign gets national platform

UCLan PaST students showcased their #GrabYourGran initiative at a prestigious national conference.

The group took part in Physiotherapy 15 at the BT Convention Centre in Liverpool, a two-day event that featured more than 250 speakers and was a fantastic opportunity to increase awareness of the campaign.

#GrabYourGran has already flourished on social media, with players from Wigan Warriors RFLC, England Rugby Union and the Chief Executive of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) all latching onto the idea.

To find out more about #GrabYourGran please click here.

UCLan hosts showpiece international event

UCLan teamed up with the University of Manchester during September to host a major Physiotherapy research event.

The International Patellofemoral Pain (PFP) Research Retreat and Clinical Symposium saw world leading experts gather in the North West to discuss their latest research findings and review the science around the condition.

PFP is the number one injury in runners and one of the most common orthopaedic problems seen by clinicians. The event was an opportunity to inspire new collaborations and ensure future research remains at the cutting edge in informing clinical practice.

UCLan's Professor James Selfe organised the four-day conference in conjunction with Dr Michael Callaghan from the University of Manchester.

He commented: "We were delighted to host the Symposium which summarised where we are today and highlighted where we are heading over the next few years.

"These are interesting times for researchers and clinicians interested in Patellofemoral Pain, as we continue to advance our knowledge and develop greater research evidence to support our clinical practice.

"The events were a tremendous success. Everyone worked really hard at the Retreat to develop the consensus statements which will be published in BJSM early next year.

"The Clinical Symposium was unique in the UK with some of the world leaders sharing their expertise to help improve patient outcomes. Everyone engaged very well and we were pleased to see high level debate and questioning."