LET THE WORLD STAY LIKE THIS! BY SUE KENT, SMT, MSMA


It was a serious commitment volunteering for 2012. During my level 4 training I encountered barriers to getting the practical training hours necessary to qualify and was offered work with Disability Sport Wales. When providing treatment during the athletics training sessions I realised that getting down to floor level to be massaged was not ideal for some Paralympians, but I applied to work at both the Olympics and Paralympics and left it to the gods to decide! I have an upper limb disability,


which was caused by the drug thalidomide. As a result I have 8 inch arms and only 7 fingers. So I developed my own method of massage using my feet. Odd though it might sound, massage is not a problem. Once I have a client under my feet I can look at body language responses and use the palpation skills in my toes, the balls and heels of my feet, which are highly developed. I can interpret most musculoskeletal problems. As you can probably imagine, my massage working life has been an uphill struggle! Getting people to understand what I do and how effective I can be has been difficult. When I applied to work for LOCOG I was welcomed with open arms and open minds, I cannot begin to describe what a difference this “can do” approach meant to me. The other therapists were interested and encouraging, letting me know how much they enjoyed the experience of watching and working with someone with such different massage skills. I was concerned about being unable to help the more disabled athletes. I shouldn’t have worried; a short discussion with my line manager and the other therapists enabled everyone to direct the clients to a therapist most suitable for their needs. Many of those who might have found the transfer from wheelchair to a bed at the right height


32


were prepared to drop to a floor level couch to experience sports massage applied by the feet. One problem area was the language


barrier, because of the shortness of my arms, sign language is impossible and when it came to stretching or passive and active movement tests and no interpreter was at hand, I could not explain what I wanted to do. I am used to talking clients through this part, as my proximity to the client if I use my short arms, is a bit of a strange invasion of personal space. But with team help we found a way around all these issues. Athletes and officials who came in to the polyclinic were, in the majority, open to this new experience. A few raised a concerned and sometimes a sceptical eyebrow but this was dealt with by my line managers who were skilled and supportive to me and positively reassuring to others, encouraging the athletes and officials to try my unusual feet techniques. After a few days word got around the village that my treatments were good and my services became accepted and often requested. My manager was asked by one of the competing countries if I could be seconded to work solely on their team. This and other compliments on my skills and the positive feedback received from top athletes, physiotherapists and team doctors has given me great validation that all my hard work has paid off and that I can provide sports massage at the highest level.


One of the volunteers’ primary


objectives at the Paralympics was to inspire, and I knew that this would be a unique platform to show other disabled people what can be achieved beyond the direct field of play. I was very pleased when one country, with a higher than average population of women with upper limb amputations, recognised my skills were transferable to these young woman in future, possibly enabling them to earn a living and a place of respect in their society. It was a privilege to work as part of a team of like-minded volunteers. It was fun


Paralympic


Polyclinic sports massage team


Volunteer feet


WAS WELCOMED WITH OPEN ARMS AND OPEN MINDS


and rewarding to share skills, and we all know that experience is vital to improve and develop any knowledge base. What I take from my time as a volunteer is strong conviction that the more you give with an open heart and without agenda, the more your receive back. My future goal is to persuade a British team, be they Olympic or Paralympic in design, to give a sports massage therapist who uses her feet, an opportunity to work as part of their team at an international event.


THE AUTHOR Sue Kent is a level 4 sports massage therapist and a qualified assessor. She has an unusual technique of providing sports massage with her feet. When the Olympics were announced she set herself the goal of being a volunteer and she achieved this ambition working at the Polyclinic during the London 2012 Paralympic Games. To work she places her couch on the floor and works from a seated position.


WHEN I APPLIED TO WORK FOR LOCOG I


sportEX dynamics 2012;54(October):31-34


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