Musgrove Park's (UK) Helen, A Physiotherapist, Is Off To The Olympics

Main Category: Rehabilitation / Physical Therapy
Also Included In: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Article Date: 07 Aug 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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A physiotherapist at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton is off to the Olympics. As well as working in Physiotherapy Outpatients at Musgrove, Helen Mathie, of Wiveliscombe, works for the British Equestrian Federation as squad physiotherapist for Team GB Paradressage.

She treats both the riders and horses along with any broken support staff (!) at training camps in the UK as well as away at competitions in the UK and overseas. This year is Olympic year in China and Helen will be travelling to Hong Kong, where the paralympic competition equestrian events are taking place. Helen is part of the squad that includes seven riders and their horses plus a team of support staff including doctor, vet, osteopath, sports psychologist, grooms, coaches and carers. They all fly out at the end of August and will be in Hong Kong for 3 weeks.

Helen said, "It will be a great experience although a challenge with the climate at that time of year. We have all been training in heat chambers, increasing cardiovascular fitness and working on hydration strategies to try and be as prepared as possible for the extreme humidity. The horses have been exercised in rugs in warm weather and the riders have been wearing lots of layers in the sun!"

The attached picture shows Helen with her seven year old eventer Fable.

Musgrove Park Hospital Taunton is part of Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

The hospital serves a population of 340,000 - primarily living in the area served by NHS South West. Each year almost 40,000 patients are admitted as emergencies; 10,000 patients are admitted for elective surgery; 26,000 are seen for day case surgery; 232,000 patients attend outpatient clinics; 48,000 attend Accident and Emergency, 170,000 diagnostic examinations take place and over 3000 babies are born in the Maternity Department. Almost 1000 patients are admitted to Critical Care each year.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust has an annual budget of £180 million. The hospital has over 700 beds, 30 wards, 15 operating theatres, a fully equipped diagnostic imaging department and employs 4,145 staff.

Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust