Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The head of medical at Batley Bulldogs has “taken the leap” to set up her own sports rehabilitation business to help and treat people in North Kirklees and beyond.
Return to You has been established by Ally Briggs, who has been looking after the Bulldogs’ physical well-being since 2016.
But going solo in the physiotherapy world has always been a dream for the 28-year-old, who also works for the NHS with Connect Health.
“It’s always where I’ve wanted to be,” she told the Reporter Series. “It’s just been about finding the cash flow and the right places. I have started to take the leap and hope to develop it into my own clinical space at some point, hopefully in a gym setting, and build it from there.
“You’ve got to start somewhere. I had been putting it off for a while just because it’s a scary thing to do. But I’ve decided to take the leap now and take advantage of the off-season to put some attention into this business and see how it grows from there.”
Explaining her background and why she wanted to set up her own business, she said:
“I enjoy my work at Batley Bulldogs and with Connect Health. But I feel with all the pressures from an NHS point of view, it’s so difficult to give patients the time and consistency they need.
“We have so many pressures to see people in a short space of time. I feel like the NHS gets a lot of criticism from a physio point of view particularly. There’s a lot of exercises on a sheet and people are then told to go away.
“I would much rather help people in an individualised way. I am hoping to develop something in the same area but more focussed on that individualised approach as it’s not a one-size-fits-all.
“Sometimes people need a little bit more support and a bit more input than what the NHS can offer.”
The Leeds-based University of Bradford graduate has a current working office at the Bulldogs’ Fox’s Biscuits Stadium, but also has the capacity to visit clients across Batley, Dewsbury, Cleckheaton and the rest of North Kirklees and beyond.
She said: “It will depend on the person’s needs and me having a consultation with the person to decide what will work best for them. Whether that’s over the phone, in person, at their house or at the club.
“I have worked with lots of different people over the years. People who have had strokes, hip replacements, knee replacements, as well as the sporting things.
“It’s not just for a specific injury, it’s open to anybody. I can also refer people to other therapists if appropriate.”
Thanking the Bulldogs for their support with her new venture, Ally added:
“The club has been fantastic, they always have been. From Kevin (Nicholas, chairman) and the management to the players and staff. I can’t fault their support.
“I started eight years ago as a student and I have never really left. I keep joking I am two years off my own testimonial!
“It’s a home from home.”
Batley head coach Mark Moxon told the Reporter Series: “Ally’s very good and organised and does a lot more than physiotherapy. She looks after the lads and is a mental health first aider as well.
“She is a great club woman as well as a good physio that all the lads respect. And that’s important because if the physio doesn’t have their respect, they won’t go and see them.
“There haven’t been any times this season where I have felt under-resourced numbers-wise, which is credit to Ally and Mark Barlow. They have done a great job this year and that shouldn’t go unnoticed.”
For more information about Return to You – Sport & Exercise Rehabilitation visit the Facebook page.
This post was originally published on here
