Former Weightlifter Becomes Pole Sport Champion Following Rehabilitation Study

An athlete in his sixties has reached the peak of his sport after participating in a groundbreaking sports rehabilitation investigation. Paul Bradley, a former weightlifter, was left unable to fully raise his arm for two decades following a shoulder dislocation. However, aided by a University of Southampton study designed to assess shoulder blade movement and muscle function, he has progressed to become a world champion in pole sport, an activity that combines dance and acrobatics. He stated that the program had “transformed my life.” Mr. Bradley, 66, dislocated his right shoulder and tore ligaments during a fall. This injury meant he could not lift his arm and was restricted to using only his “good” arm to reach above his head. In 2012, he took part in the Motor Control Retraining Exercises for Shoulder Impingement (Mocats) study, which employed novel methods to evaluate shoulder blade movement and shoulder muscle function. Experts utilized motion analysis technology to identify personalized exercises that facilitated his recovery. The team successfully pinpointed the cause of Mr. Bradley’s shoulder impingement, where a tendon was catching on a bone. From this diagnosis, they identified exercises aimed at improving his posture and training his body to maintain his shoulder in a corrected position. Mr. Bradley recalled experiencing an improvement “within a week.” He added, “It then took several months to train my body to naturally hold my shoulder in the correct position. I was so happy and I found I could start to do more and more exercises.” This enabled him to take up pole sport, an activity demanding considerable strength and control. Peter Worsley, professor of assistive technology and tissue health at the university, characterized Mr. Bradley’s experience as a “fantastic outcome.” Professor Worsley explained, “You need all the big muscles and all the little muscles in your shoulder to be working coherently for it to move properly.” He further stated, “Using surface electrodes and our motion capture system, we measured muscle activity and shoulder blade movement to create tailored interventions for people suffering shoulder pain.” Mr. Bradley has traveled globally to compete in pole sport competitions, representing Great Britain in three world championships. In 2022, he was crowned the men’s over-60s world champion and continues to hold the world record in his category. “If I hadn’t taken part in the Mocats trial, I would never have achieved any of this. I’m so grateful – it quite literally transformed my life for the better,” Mr. Bradley said. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.