Marjon students learn injury management for wheelchair athletes

Released: 06.11.18

Marjon Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation students made effective use of their University ‘reading week’ by taking an in-depth look at injury management for wheelchair sports.

Aaron Blyth-Palk of Plymouth Raiders Wheelchair Basketball and Alfie Jones from the Marjon Sport and Health Clinic ran workshops for students looking at the different demands of playing wheelchair basketball and different ways of taping and massaging wheelchair-bound athletes.

The twenty-one students got a hands-on experience of the rigours of wheelchair basketball before learning techniques specifically designed for the treatment of disabled athletes.

The event was organised by Marjon Sports Therapy Lecturers Vicki Evans and Sarah Martin.

“It’s great that we are raising awareness of disability sport with our students and enabling them to put their knowledge in to different contexts,” said Sarah.

“With Alfie’s experience working with wheelchair athletes and Aaron’s knowledge of the sport, hopefully this has given our students an insight into supporting athletes across the sporting community.”

Marjon undergraduate and postgraduate students took part in the event; which provided a practical workshop experience to those wishing to learn more about the treatment of disabled sportspeople.

Jordan Pearce, who is a postgraduate student on the Sport Rehabilitation course, was delighted with what he learned on the day.

Jordan said: “It was a fantastic experience that helped me realise how challenging wheelchair sports can be. It gave me a good insight of sporting injuries that can come with being a wheelchair user.”

One of Jordan’s classmates Kerrie Mott said: “This has opened my eyes to future career opportunities and given me some ideas for my thesis project.”

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