FOUR students from the University of Winchester were on hand at the London Marathon for post-race sports massages and recovery advice.

The trainee physiotherapists, under the supervision of Liam Newton, manager of the University-run Winchester Health Clinic, had been recruited by the charity Parkinson’s UK which had 200 runners in the race.

As a thank-you to its runners, the charity set up a massage room in the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms.

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Mr Newton said: “The opportunity provided valuable exposure for the students to support individuals who have completed such a fantastic physical challenge. 

“We saw about 70 to 80 runners and as the day went on and the less-fit started to come in we saw some people who were limping and hobbling.

“Everyone we helped was very appreciative of our efforts and said they felt better for it.”

The university set up the Winchester Health Clinic in 2021, with the aim of providing high-quality physiotherapy assessment and treatment to the surrounding community.

The undergraduate students work alongside Health and Care Professions Council-accredited (HCPC) physiotherapy practitioners in the clinic during placements as part of their studies.

Appointments for the clinic at Winchester Sport and Leisure Park in Bar End Road can be made at winchesterhealthclinic.co.uk/.