Society of Sports Therapist Member Graham Theobald is a postgraduate student at the University of Central Lancashire where he is currently undertaking an MPhil and a PhD. He has undertaken a number of research projects in the past and has a particular interest in the area of knee pain in cyclists. Graham is himself a fanatical cyclist and the topic he has chosen is undoubtedly close to his heart.

As well as conducting his research, the UCLan Sports Therapy Graduate is also Clinical Director of The Body Rehab in Kendall, Lancashire; a musculoskeletal, sports injury and rehabilitation clinic

It makes for a great combination and Graham recently gave the Society an insight into his work.

Graham, we understand you are studying for an MPhil following your BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy Degree and a PhD at the same time. Is this an unusual route to take?

No, the MPhil work informs the PhD study and one naturally leads on to the other. This is now the normal PhD route as it allows the researcher the option to undertake both or one single research path.

The MPhil very much forms the basis for the PhD in that it helped me to design the main PhD study. The MPhil study is based around an online questionnaire that is targeted at clinicians, therapists and sports doctors etc. who specialise in working with experienced and elite cyclists with knee pain. It is focused on how they use taping with patello-femoral knee pain, what kind of tape, application technique, expectations, client feedback, why they use it, how they use it etc.

 The goal is to build a specific knowledge base that allows me to put together some techniques and applications that have real clinical relevance. The lab based PhD study, will then use 3D motions analysis to look at the efficacy and clinical effectiveness of various

	The testing equipment in place

taping for cycling related knee pain.

Can you give us a broad outline of your work?

The aims of the MPhil study and PhD are to design and implement a survey that will establish the current clinical practice of therapists in the UK and mainland Europe, of taping techniques for the treatment of elite and experienced cyclists with patello-femoral knee pain. Whereas, the aims of the PhD are to investigate the biomechanical efficacy and clinical effectiveness of specified clinical patella taping treatments in elite and experienced cyclists, with and without patello-femoral knee pain.

When do you expect to complete your PhD?

I expect to complete the PhD in about 3 years from now. As it is part time I have to juggle a busy clinical schedule with the research work. Sometimes progress is slow but things are moving along at a predicted pace.

	Graham’s off road adventures

You are passionate about cycling. How long have you been cycling and how did your love for it develop?

I have been cycling all my life really. From early days in the 70’s on my Chopper (which I still have incidentally!) to now. I have raced at International level at Ironman Triathlon and still race locally on the road and nationally at cyclocross. My early days were inspired by having to get to school as there was no bus service and walking was a long way. Also, in the summer holidays it gave us a sense of freedom and the ability to be independent. More recently it is a great way to keep fit and combine sport with work. Competition now takes more of a back seat and participation comes to the fore.  I think that is a way of saying that I’m not as good as I used to be!

How often do you cycle? Do you belong to a club or take part in any competitions?

I cycle to work and back pretty much every day, which is a 40 mile round trip. Also at weekends we go on longer rides as a group. We also have a Wattbike and Altitude training system in the clinic rehab suite so this helps with extra training during the week.  I sponsor and also ride for occasionally a local team (Wheelbase). I compete in the 3 peaks cyclocross race every year as well as a few local road races. Over the winter the main focus is on cyclocross to stay as fast as possible. We also do a couple of trips a year to Europe for things like the Tour of Flanders and riding in the French alps. If I can sneak in a winter training trip to Gran Canaria I am always happy!

Apart from your research, you are a clinical Director and Lead Therapist at The Body Rehab Injury and Rehabilitation Clinic, how many people work there? Are you working with any other Sports Therapists? Do Cyclists see the clinic as a specialist centre?

	The Body Rehab Clinic Pictured

There are 3 full time members of staff and one part time sports masseur here at The Body Rehab. We do employ one other full time Sports Therapist, Roxanna Pearson. Because of the area we are in and the proximity of cycling shops, we are very much seen as cycling specialists. We sponsor some very high quality national cyclists and this also attracts interest.

We have expanded our treatment services to include bike fitting, performance testing and altitude training. Being in the Lake District is also helpful as many road cyclists and Mountain Bikers live and come here for quality riding.

You presented at The Society of Sports Therapists AGM 2011 Seminar. How did that go?

It seemed to go very well. The feedback was good and the presentation was followed by some good questions, which is normally a sign that people enjoyed it and were interested. I was honoured to have been asked to present by Professor Graham Smith and hope that it added something positive to the meeting. It was also great to meet other members whilst there.

You provided Sports Therapy Support services at the Brathay 10 in 10

	Graham with fellow UCLan Sports Therapy Graduate and colleague Roxanna Pearson

 marathons. Can you tell us a little about the event and what was your main role?

The event is a fund-raiser for Brathay Hall Trust, who work with underprivileged and inner city young people from all over the country. The participants each run a marathon every day for 10 days. It’s around the same course (the Windermere marathon) and puts a lot of stress on the body. The event is the only one of its kind in the World and attracts a lot of attention in the running world. My role is to manage the other therapists and students and essentially to be a clinical educator for the MSc students who participate. We encounter a lot of acute overuse injuries so its fantastic experience for the students and therapists. We also provide musculoskeletal injury cover and massage for the main marathon on the last day of the 10 days ultra-endurance event. It’s a very stressful 10 days work!

As an active researcher and Clinical Director how do you manage to find time to fit everything in?

Now that’s a question I get asked a lot!  The simple answer is that often I struggle to do so. I have an amazing team behind me at the clinic who give me lots of support and help. We always strive to add clinical relevance to our research and are committed to being the best that we can be. Our clinical work is very evidence based and at times I take on too much. The short answer to your questions is that often it means long days in clinic and finding time to do the research at odd hours. I guess if I wasn’t passionate about it then it wouldn’t happen.

What advice would you give to students going into their final year who might also wish to go down the Post Graduate route?

I think my advice is to think ahead and try to use the Undergraduate dissertation as a positive step to further research in that particular area.  If you do a great job of your dissertation you can normally get it published and then use that work to inform a further study building on your findings. If you want to go down the PhD route then consider an MPhil first as you can use this to transfer onto PhD. Otherwise a Masters by Research is a good alternative. Don’t forget your clinical practice though as in my opinion, the best researchers are also active clinicians as well. Be hungry for knowledge and make sure people can use your findings proactively in everyday clinical work. Passion for subject is also a key factor, if you love researching it, the results will be that much more rewarding, even though they are sometimes frustrating.

For Members who are interested in learning more about Graham’s study, this can be accessed in the Members area.