International Success For Physiotherapy Alumnus
University of Hertfordshire alumnus Nicki Combarro has over sixteen years’ experience in her field of physiotherapy and a thriving business. Here she tells of her University of Hertfordshire experience; Olympic success and her current role.
Studying at the University
Originally from Hampshire, Nicki began at the University of Hertfordshire in 1993 along with forty-one other students as the first cohort to study Physiotherapy. Although when arriving on the Open Day and the physio building not being built yet, Nicki explained: “At the start of term it was a brand new facility and as we were the first year, we were the entire focus of the teaching staff for the whole of first year.”
Nicki continued: “Overall the degree was excellent, with lots of contact hours with the lecturers and clinical tutors. It was also a very practical course. We had to do a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical placement within the local hospitals. This was a brilliant learning opportunity and made all the theoretical learning come to life.”
Nicki added: “Without my degree I would not be a Chartered Physiotherapist – in the UK a degree in Physiotherapy is the only route into the profession.”
Advice to students and graduates
Aspiring to be a physiotherapist at a young age, Nicki explained that when she was a sixth form student, the biggest hurdle was achieving the A level grades to get onto the degree of her choice. She said: “Although this pressure still exists for students, there is now the additional pressure of limited positions when looking for a job as graduates. As physiotherapy graduates, junior positions are not in abundance.”
With this in mind, Nicki advised: “Do all you can to make yourself more employable. If the opportunity arises to get a summer job in a nursing home or in a hospital as a health care assistant or physio assistant, do it. You could also volunteer in a local private practice. All of these experiences will not only make you more employable, but help develop your interpersonal skills and understanding of the profession.”
London 2012
London 2012 was an unforgettable event that was watched by the world. As athletes competed and captured the hearts of the nation, there were people behind the scenes, each playing their part in the biggest sporting event of the year, people like Nicki.
Nicki is no stranger to large scale sporting events having been involved in three Commonwealth Games and various World University Games. As one of 400 physiotherapists volunteering their services in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, from June Nicki was based at Loughborough University where the holding camp for Team GB was set up. Once the games were underway, Nicki supported the cycling athletes at the Velodrome and was also based in the Medical Centre in the Athletes’ Village where any nation and any sport could access it.
Asked what the best part of London 2012 was, Nicki said: “Seeing an athlete with a medal around their neck and knowing that you played a part in their success, even if it was a tiny part, really is a fantastic feeling.”
Bodybalance
As well as having travelled the world training a range of athletes, Nicki owns physiotherapy business Body Balance, which is based next to the University’s Sports Village. Nicki explained: “I set it up in 1999 whilst I was working for the NHS. Its first treatment room was located outside the changing rooms and was open for a couple of evenings a week and now it has a much bigger premise and is open six out of seven days a week. It’s fantastic.”
From early morning or late evening appointments, Bodybalance provides physiotherapy, as well as sports massage therapy and Pilates. It sees a range of clientele from University staff, students and the public, along with sports teams and elite athletes. These include, Adam Brown, British Olympic swimmer and British record holder, Arsenal footballers and the England women’s national football team.
Nicki said: “We have a great regional profile with clients coming from far and wide and from a range of sports. If you take all of my staff’s profiles, I’ve got an amazing array of experience. At the clinic we can help someone get back to desk fitness, but also we help athletes to perform at the highest level.”
She added: “I think it’s that experience that sets us apart and with our facilities, we are quite unique.”
The clinic also supports different programmes such as the Hertfordshire Talented Athlete Programme, which helps and provides some funding to athletes in full time education that have been identified as excelling in their sport and the national Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS).
Find out more
To find out more about Bodybalance, please visit www.bodybalancephysio.com
To find out more about studying physiotherapy at the University, please visit: www.herts.ac.uk/courses/subjects/physiotherapy/undergraduate.cfm
For a physiotherapy or sports massage appointment, please contact:
Karen Marshall at Bodybalance
T: 01707 284910