Rory Best using Don Gatherer’s GP Analysis Suite and Don Gatherer analysing the data on the screen.
The Gatherer Partnership, conceived to develop innovative products that offer physiotherapists accurate and objective data for the management of neuromusculoskeletal conditions, has announced it is part of the respected rehabilitation facilities at The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital (RBH). A new clinic has been specially created at The RBH in Aylesbury which is more centrally located than the original Gatherer Partnership centre in Norfolk. “Our closer ties with RBH will provide the players with better access to consultants, specialists and neurosurgeons,” says Don Gatherer, founder of The Gatherer Partnership, himself a former player and someone who has treated close to 400 players.
The technology combines Formula One technology and the experience of one of Britain’s most renowned research physiotherapists aims to advance rehabilitation and training techniques for rugby players. Data such as peak force and fatigue rating of voluntary muscle contraction will enable physiotherapists to assess the player’s true condition, determine the need for specialist referral as well as the ability to create and administer bespoke conditioning and rehabilitation programmes.
Gatherer, a former consultant physio to the RFU and long time member of the Players’ Safety Committee plans to roll out an analysis system to help clubs and individuals do everything from developing a better training regime, through to using it as an additional diagnostic aid for surgical intervention decisions. “I am currently treating both Premiership and International players with cervical lesions at my clinic,” says Gatherer. “From treating over 170 players, I know that prescribing and monitoring a specific rehabilitation programme is considerably enhanced with supporting objective data. Our aim is to offer these data acquisition tools and the software to make the most use of the data to the teams and their physios.”
Aside from rugby where Gatherer, a former British Lions, England rugby and GB Olympic physio is highly regarded, The Gatherer Partnership expects its tools to be relevant to other professional sports such as football, riding, martial arts and boxing as well the defence, medical, insurance and leisure industries.
About The Gatherer Partnership
The Gatherer Partnership www.thegathererpartnership.com offers accurate and objective data collection, analysis and rehabilitation monitoring to the field of physical therapy, exercise and sport. Derived from motorsport technology, combined with the unique research experience of physiotherapist Don Gatherer, The Gatherer Partnership will advance the rehabilitation and conditioning of patients through the use of repeatable and measurable processes. The tools and techniques developed can benefit all sectors with particular reference to sport, medicine, rehabilitation and leisure gyms. Operating from new facilities in Aylesbury at Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, The Gatherer Partnership is also developing bespoke derivatives of its GP Harness and GP Analysis Suite to allow organisations to offer the technology to their athletes, customers or patients. Visit www.thegathererpartnership.com for more information.
