Physiotherapy post-race recovery
Our student Physiotherapist’s deliver post-race recovery soft tissue techniques to runners who have completed the Cardiff Half Marathon.
Supervised by physiotherapy academics from our School, our students have been working at this event for ten years.
Reach
Approximately 90 students and 6 supervising staff participate in this annual event. On average, 450 of the runners are treated by the students post-race, plus a further 32 international athletes in the lead up to the event. This includes groups running for Barnardos charity and those running for Cardiff University charities. In ten years, over 4,000 runners have been involved.
Impact
Post-race recovery techniques are important to aid runners’ recovery from the event. The service is provided free of charge and simultaneously enhances our students' experience in therapeutic handling, professional and communication skills.
The experience also develops their ability to modify their professional skills in a situation which is different to their normal clinical placement education.
Feedback from students who participate in the event has been positive:
“Having the opportunity to massage at the Cardiff Half Marathon was great! Not only was it a fun day with live music, food trucks and a great atmosphere, it also allowed me to have experience communicating and being hands-on with the general public.”
"It gave us a great opportunity to work with the public and show the benefits of physiotherapy in a different situation from clinical placements."
Head of School Professor David Whitaker said, "Our students are often our greatest ambassadors and our 2nd and 3rd year Physiotherapy students do us proud at the Cardiff Half Marathon."