Arsenal physio 'impressed' by Bedfordshire Sports Therapy students

Fri 27 March, 2015
Article Header Image

A physiotherapist from Arsenal Football Club was 鈥榠mpressed鈥 by students and their research during his visit to the University for last week鈥檚 Sports Therapy Conference.

Alastair Thrush, Lead Academy Physiotherapist at the Premier League side, was the keynote speaker at the conference and also stopped by to take in the exhibition of student research posters.

鈥淚 was very interested in the poster presentations and very impressed,鈥 he said. 鈥淚t reminded me of my time at the end of my course.

鈥淚n particular, I liked the ones relating to anxiety following injury. That鈥檚 a very interesting and undervalued area of research.

鈥淲e always look towards published scientific literature to try and guide our treatment and rehabilitation programmes at Arsenal.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a great opportunity to link in with educational institutions to show that what鈥檚 being done is effective.鈥

The research exhibition marked the start of the half-day event, before an ask the experts career and networking session, which was opened up to local employers and prospective students.

Potential applicants also got the chance to view practical sessions put on by Sports Therapy students from the University.

Sports Therapy students 

Before that, awards were handed out to three students and there was a speech from the Open University鈥檚 Head of Childhood, Youth and Sport, Ben Oakley.

Ben was Olympic Coach in windsurfing at the Seoul and Barcelona Games, using that experience to contribute to the BBC鈥檚 build up to the London Olympics in 2012.

He took students through his habit of reading sports biographies 鈥 particularly those of Sir Steve Redgrave and Dame Kelly Holmes, who has close connections with the University through the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust.

Ben鈥檚 speech was preceded by Alastair鈥檚 presentation about how he helped transform Arsenal Academy鈥檚 injury record into one of the best in the world.

鈥淚t was a good opportunity to give something back to the higher education system,鈥 said Alastair. 鈥淲hen I went through university, we had some great speakers who inspired me.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we try and give something back and share our experiences and how we got in.鈥

So, did he spot any 亚色视频 students who might follow his route?

鈥淒efinitely, a couple of students who came up seemed very engaged and keen to tread the pathway into elite sport.

鈥淎ny student who shows an interest in asking questions and trying to engage with you and how you got to where you are shows potential already.鈥

Senior Lecturer in Sports Therapy Mark Cousins thanked Ben and Alastair for their contributions.

鈥淲e are very grateful to Alastair and Ben in giving up their time, particularly as they are both held in such high esteem within their disciplines.

鈥淭heir contributions were invaluable to the conference experience for the students, and their high level of academic rigour challenged our students to reflect and improve as they develop as clinicians in the sports therapy field.鈥

telephone

University switchboard
During office hours
(Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00)
+44 (0)1234 400 400

Outside office hours
(Campus Watch)
+44 (0)1582 74 39 89

email

Admissions
admission@beds.ac.uk

International office
international@beds.ac.uk

Student support
sid@beds.ac.uk

Registration
sid@beds.ac.uk

social media