Services
PHYSIOTHERAPY | SPORTS MASSAGE | VIDEO ANALYSIS | INJURY PREVENTION SCREENING | SEMINARS | REHAB PROGRAMMES
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can help with a wide range of musculoskeletal problems, including common rowing related issues such as lower back, shoulder, hip and knee pain. These problems can often develop gradually through training load, reduced movement quality and other day to day stresses. Unaddressed, these issues can inhibit performance, lead to long term (chronic) pain and affect your quality of life.
Physiotherapy focuses on not just where the pain is felt, but trying to understand why it has developed. This includes looking at movement patterns, strength, mobility and training patterns. Treatment is then tailored to the individual using a variety of hands on (manual therapy) techniques as well as individualised exercise programmes. The aim is not just short term pain relief and return to row, but also on long term resilience and confidence in movement.
Physiotherapy assessments can take place either in-person, or online via video. If needed, further follow up appointments can then be booked in at a discounted rate. 'At event' physiotherapy is charged at a flat rate.
Sports Massage
Sports massage is a hands on treatment that can help with muscle tightness, soreness, stiffness and fatigue- particularly during periods of heavy training or competition. It is commonly used to address areas such as the back, shoulders, hips, glutes as legs.
Treatment focuses on reducing muscle tension, improving tissue mobility, clearing lactic acid build up and supporting recovery. Sports massage can be particularly useful in managing niggles before they develop into more serious problems.
A range of manual techniques may be used, including; deep tissue massage, instrument assisted soft tissue massage, percussion therapy and myofascial release. Sessions can be tailored to pre-event preparation, post race recovery or as ongoing maintenance.
Video Analysis
For video analysis, rowers are asked to bring along a short clip of themselves rowing, either on the water or on the erg. This footage is then used to gain a clearer understanding of individual techniques, movement patterns and how the body is working throughout the stroke.
Analysis focuses on key technical positions, sequencing and how these may relate to performance or injury risk. Using both my expertise in rowing and physiotherapy, feedback is kept practical and easy to apply. The aim will be to highlight a small number of meaningful changes that can be taken straight back into training. Where appropriate, technical feedback can also be supported with targeted exercises or movement strategies that can carry over into the boat.
Video analysis can be carried out in-person at events, or it can be conducted virtually. For non-event video analysis, please use the 'contact' page to get in touch so we can arrange the best way to get your footage over to us for analysis.
Injury Prevention Screening
The injury prevention screening service is designed to identify common risk factors associated with rowing related injuries and to address these prior to symptoms developing.
Screening will take around 45 minutes and will include an assessment of movement, strength and mobility. From this we can then flag potential areas of improvement that are needed to reduce injury risk going forwards.
Following the screening, you will receive a personalised report by email, outlining key findings, along with clear, practical recommendations. This will include targeted exercises and robustness work that can easily be integrated into existing training plans.
Injury prevention screening offers a proactive way to support athlete health, reduce time lost to injury and promote more consistent training across the squad. The aim is not to restrict training, but to help athletes build resilience and stay on the water throughout a season.
Whilst individuals can book in for assessment at our clinic in Henley, we can also offer a tailored approach to groups or clubs. Please get in touch via the 'contact' page if you would like to discuss group assessment.
Seminars
Seminars are delivered in-person at clubs and are designed to support both performance and long-term athlete health. We currently offer three different 80 minute seminars (inc Q&A):
- Rowing Injuries and How to Prevent Them
- Team Work Makes The Dream Work (How To Communicate Effectively)
- How to Pick Yourself Up and Go Again (Dealing with failure in order to achieve success)
Our 'Rowing Injuries and How to Prevent Them' seminar explores common rowing related injuries, why they occur, and the best strategies to mitigate these risks.
Whilst our 'Team Work Makes The Dream Work' seminar draws on my elite-level experience to explore areas such as teamwork, communication and performance under pressure.
Finally in the 'How to Pick Yourself Up and Go Again' seminar I discuss how I went from a C-Final at the World Championships to delivering GB's first Olympic medal in the mens quadruple scull, and the processes I had to go through to pick myself up and go again.
*Please contact us directly for a full quote.
Rehab Programmes
Rehab programmes and core circuits are designed to support recovery, improve movement quality, and address specific areas athletes want to work on. Clients get in touch and book in for a virtual appointment. Here they will discuss their individual goals; be that returning from injury, managing a recurring issue, or improving strength and control around a particular area. Or whether it is just that the client does not know where to begin with writing and developing their own core/ condition circuit.
Programmes are then built around the athletes needs and training demands, and exercises are selected to target the underlying factors contributing to the issue. This may include; core stability, strength and mobility work, movement patterning or rowing specific motor control exercises.
The aim of these programmes is to provide focused, effective, ongoing support that will fit alongside rowing, to help athletes feel stronger, more resilient and more confident in their movement.
