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Kyle Rathbone

Massage Therapist – Alba Spinal Health Centre, Warrington

BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy

An image of Kyle Rathbone

"My tutors were incredibly supportive in helping me to choose a work placement. Thanks to the university having a multitude of contacts, there was no shortage of placement opportunities."

The sporting facilities at Edge Hill are the best I’ve seen at any university. The equipment and laboratories have everything you need to get the most out of the course and more. Plus, each tutor specializes in something different, so the knowledge you can gain is endless.

My degree taught me to think outside the box. This is especially useful when a patient presents their problem, so that I have the confidence to examine the issue in depth whilst reassuring them. I also learned how to work confidently with members of the public, by facing realistic training scenarios and dealing with them as appropriately and as professional as possible.

My tutors were incredibly supportive in helping me to choose a work placement. Thanks to the university having a multitude of contacts, there was no shortage of placement opportunities. I had the chance to express preferences for my placement and was lucky enough to be matched with the ideal organisation – a private chiropractors and sports injuries clinic. This opened my eyes to a passion I never knew I had – working specifically with the spine. And the experience opened up so many opportunities for my future.

The top three skills my degree at Edge Hill gave me are anatomical knowledge, attention to detail, and professionalism. All three are really important in my job. I pay great attention to detail when assessing my patients, looking for both physical and mental symptoms. And professionalism is key in a sector where you’re supporting patients on a daily basis.

I’m currently training to be an Osteomyologist (Spinal Technician) within my current workplace. This is a fantastic profession opportunity for me, and now that I’ve found a career I’m passionate about I am always working hard to learn more. When I qualify, I’ll be able to take on my own clientele, and help people to recover from injuries – which is more rewarding than I had ever imagined.

My advice to any sports students at Edge Hill is to take advantage of every facility and opportunity you can. Whether it’s the wonderful mental health team, the Catalyst, the large sports halls or high-tech laboratories. Work hard, do not be afraid to ask questions or go over things again, and don’t waste a single opportunity – because studying at university is once in a lifetime.