LOCAL chiropractor, Kay Pearce, is set to represent the town on the international stage as she has been chosen to join the medical services team at the Commonwealth Games!
Kay, who own the Maristow Chiropractic Clinic in town, has plenty of experience in cracking the backs of elite athletes as she was previously selected to provide her services at the British Masters Athletics, as well as the London 2012 Paralympics, and also at the World Track and Field Athletics Championships.
Kay will now be supporting athletes at the Commonwealth Games in the polyclinic (the medical centre), which is taking place in Birmingham from 28th July to the 8th August.
Kay said, “It was a really tough selection process that went back all the way to December last year, so I’ve had to keep quiet for so long now. I feel really honoured to have been selected and this helps to show that our services are needed on an international stage as well as locally.
“Patients love to hear stories about what goes on, I do have to remain confidential however! Being in the Athlete Village itself is really inspiring and you feel so involved as you are right in the centre of the hive of activity. You really get to peek behind the curtain and see what really goes on – that’s the fun bit!”
Kay says she will be there to treat any athlete that needs her support regardless of team affiliation. She added, “I will be part of the medical services team that has been put on by the hosts, Birmingham, and we are there to treat any athlete that requires medical attention. I’m part of a team of professionals; that includes everything from sports and exercise doctors to pharmacists, GPs, physios, chiropractors, and osteopaths.
“A lot of the time we get visits from athletes of countries that don’t have their own medical team, or for any athlete that doesn’t want their own medical team to know of an injury or concerns, they can come to us and receive treatment in confidence.
“I’ll be working with 20 other chiropractors as we need to cover shifts – we need to be available from the early hours in the morning right up until 11pm at night. This opportunity is completely voluntary, I’m just happy to offer my services at such a big event like this.”
