Early Years: Sparking a Passion for Sports and Human Performance
Like many teenagers, I was always active and interested in sports. Some of my earliest memories involve Saturday mornings spent with my extended family, playing basketball, volleyball, indoor hockey, table tennis, chair football—you name it. The variety of sports created a competitive drive in me, especially when trying to keep up with my older, more physically adept relatives.
Throughout school I explored various sports, starting with cross-country, but as a 6’5” 13-year-old I quickly found my place in basketball. It was here that I first noticed how different sports seemed to shape athletes in unique ways. Why were rugby players so big and powerful, while marathon runners were lean and enduring? How could I adapt my body to improve my performance in basketball? These questions sparked a deep interest in functional anatomy, human performance, and the body’s ability to adapt and transform, which would become a driving force in my career.
Medical School and the Shift to Physiotherapy
At school, Human Biology and Physical Education were my favourite subjects. They offered the answers I sought about the body and its potential. When it came to choosing my A-level subjects, I was funnelled towards medical school. I wanted the opportunity to help care for people in pain, while diving deeper into anatomy and physiology.
However, during my first year of medical school, something felt off. While playing for the Medics basketball team, I met several teammates studying physiotherapy, and their enthusiasm for the field was infectious. Their course combined everything I loved about medicine—functional anatomy and biomechanics—but with a more practical, hands-on approach combined with sport-specific modules. I also realised how much time they spent working directly with patients and helping them recover, which contrasted with the lack of patient continuity I felt on my GP placements in medical school.
After much consideration, I made the nerve-wracking decision to switch career paths and pursue physiotherapy. It was a leap of faith, but one that aligned with my growing passion for understanding human movement and helping people get back to full function.
Discovering Strength and Conditioning
As a physio student, I was fortunate to experience a wide range of clinical settings—from home visits on community placements to stroke rehabilitation and orthopaedic surgery wards. It was a privilege to help people during their most vulnerable moments. However, I quickly became frustrated by some systemic issues. Long referral wait times meant patients were often dealing with chronic conditions that could have been managed better with earlier intervention. People were often discharged before they were fully ready to return to physical activity, leaving them with only a few basic exercises and little guidance for long-term recovery. It felt like something was missing from the care continuum.
Fortunately, my university had an accredited Strength and Conditioning (S&C) internship program, which I participated in alongside my Physio studies. I spent the three years progressing from a junior intern to a lead role, and it was a game-changer. I loved being back in a gym environment, learning from experienced coaches, and seeing firsthand how physiotherapy and S&C could complement each other. Having the physio experience to break down movement patterns and regress exercises became a valuable tool in the gym as a coach. It also worked the other way, as my coaching experience equipped me to better help my physio patients progress their exercises past the early rehab stage and prepare to return to their previous activities and sports. This experience cemented my belief that physio and strength training exist on a spectrum rather than being two separate entities. After completing my undergraduate degree in physiotherapy, I went on to earn my master’s degree in Strength and Conditioning Coaching, feeling more equipped to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and peak performance.
The Search for Balance: Enter Reconditioning
After graduating, I found myself at a crossroads—should I focus on physiotherapy or strength and conditioning? I loved both, but each had its limitations. In physio, I wanted more continuity with my patients and the chance to help them return fully to their sports. In S&C, I missed the complex problem-solving involved in injury diagnosis and recovery.
Then I discovered reconditioning, a relatively new field that merges physiotherapy and S&C coaching. It felt like the perfect blend, allowing me to use my full skill set to help people recover from injuries and return to their sports stronger than before. Reconditioning offered a solution to the disconnect between rehab and performance training, letting athletes continue to improve without having to take extended breaks from their sport.
Why Shoulders?
My focus on shoulders came from both personal experience and professional curiosity. Being tall as a child, I spent years hunched over low desks, developing poor posture, limited shoulder mobility, and recurring nerve issues. This only worsened during my time competing in strongman and powerlifting, where heavy lifting put immense strain on my shoulders.
As a physiotherapy student, I sought out ways to “fix” my own issues, learning everything I could about shoulder function and rehabilitation. But I quickly noticed that many physiotherapists expressed frustration with shoulder treatments—poor clinical outcomes, the complexity of the joint, and a general lack of confidence in treating shoulder injuries. Joints like the hips and knees seemed well understood, but shoulders were different. The intricacies of the shoulder joint made it more challenging to rehabilitate effectively and get long term sustained results.
After discovering Dynamic Shoulders through a guest lecture delivered by Tim, I quickly booked onto the coach education workshop so I could equip myself with the tools I needed. Fast forward to today, and I now feel privileged to be part of a team dedicated to setting the standard for shoulder reconditioning. I’m passionate about helping athletes and fitness enthusiasts overcome shoulder injuries and regain full functionality, so they can return to their sports with confidence and strength.
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