Physio helps paralympians

A record 170 athletes will represent Australia at the 13th Paralympic Games in Beijing this month, up from the 160-strong team that went to Athens in 2004.

Despite the increase in team size, however, disabled athletes face significant challenges in rising to the top of their field, with less funding available and few able to enjoy the level of sponsorships and endorsements of their able-bodied peers.

Recognising these difficulties, West Perth physiotherapist Ian Lowther has volunteered his time to help the Australian men's wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers.

Last week, Mr Lowther left his physiotherapy practice on Hay Street behind for four weeks to offer his time and expertise to the team.

The Rollers are tipped for a medal, and coach Kelvin Browner said recruiting Mr Lowther could make all the difference.

Mr Lowther, a former Fremantle Football Club and West Coast Eagles physiotherapist, said his absence from the practice could cost the business as much as $10,000 a week.

"The Rollers needed somebody to give a hand; they couldn't find anybody to go with them to Beijing so I took it up with the wife and decided it would be a good thing to do," he told WA Business News.

"It's going to cost me a truck load. We're so busy at the moment, but you can't let it worry you, it really is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of gig."

It was by chance and luck that the Rollers found a team physio before heading off on its Beijing campaign.

After a national advertising offensive failed to spark interest for the job, Mr Browner, who has been Mr Lowther's long-time physiotherapy patient, asked if he would be willing to take it on.

"What we've got with Ian coming on board is a professional who can do all the strapping, fix up the aching bones, work on sore muscles and make referrals to specialists," Mr Browner said.

"If we were paying commercial rates we would be looking at paying something like $30,000 for two weeks.

"There is no doubt that we [disabled sports] are seriously underfunded and we're always struggling to find money. Although we are well-treated by the Australian Sports Commission, getting corporations involved to provide funding can be very difficult.

"A lot of the boys do their own sponsorship [deals] with corporate speeches and that sort of thing, but by and large we're always chasing dollars."

WA Business News understands that West Perth-based automotive retailing and logistics group, Automotive Holdings Group Ltd, is in talks with the Rollers to sponsor its physiotherapy team.