“If I use a 92-year-old woman as an example there’s no way I’d ask her to do a deadlift!”
From working with a wide range of service users, from labourers and elderly people to high performing, high flying college and professional athletes.
“I had a fascination and a general interest in the human body from a young age. From the biomechanics and generally how the human body moves”. Through combining a love of sports as well, his passions would eventually lead to him to entering sports rehabilitation, amongst general bodily rehabilitation for the non-competitive.
Williams started his education at St Brendan’s College in Bristol, studying Sports at a BTEC Level.
From there he excelled achieving his qualifications and wanted to get his feet wet as early as possible.
After graduating from university with a degree in sports rehabilitation, Williams sent feelers out looking a job in his field and landed on Philgood Rehabilitation which is private injury clinic based in Shepton Mallet.
Here Dom starts his weekend job managing the injuries of numerous people. “I will be working with plumbers with bad knees, or a runner with niggling issues and a few elderly people. We have a good variety of people that come to see us”.
Williams ever on the hunt to broaden his abilities and almost show off his skills, the 26-year-old applied for another job at SGS College in Bristol. After getting to know the Head of Strength and Conditioning at the college, Dom was able to start a new venture working with the college athletes.
Williams and his colleagues oversee several academies which range from several sports. Dom in particular is responsible for the female rugby side. “I’m the guy with bag who runs on the pitch when someone goes down. I have to be ready with my cooling spray and magic sponge.”
The Head of Strength and Condition who oversees Dom’s work is also affiliated with The Bristol Flyers. And as the college building is right next to the Flyers facility, Dom was able to transition and take on another responsibility in the world of professional basketball.
Now in his second season with the Flyers, Dom has already ventured to Europe with the team and overseen their injured to get them back ready and fit for the court. The Team has been riddled with injuries these past few seasons so Dom is hard a work. A lot is expected from the players. “Our assistant manager told our staff the team played 55 games in 230 days, which is just chaos
“Some weeks we’re playing four games a week. Trying to keep these guys fit and healthy. When you have more games the injury risk is higher. We have players playing 37 minutes a game. We have to work with all of our staff to get these guys ready.”
With his determination and commitment to the team, Dom is excited for the eventual move the Flyers will make to their new home in the Ashton Gate Sporting Quarter. “It is exciting and something that has been a long time coming. I haven’t been with the team long, but with it being announced and delayed and as the geeks and nerds that we our myself and the team are excited about the new equipment”.
One of the main skills Williams must use to ensure each of his service users get the correct measure of care is his adaptability. “Even the way you speak to clients is important. I use a wider vocab with our older clients or more simple words with the younger. Especially if it’s a child with their parent. In terms of the basketball team, we have guys who live in the gym and know their muscles and bodies well.
“It’s about the type of language you use and the types of exercises. If I use a 92-year-old woman as an example there’s no way I’d ask her to do a deadlift! You must find ways around it. We have rehab plans for every person we see”.
