- SF33, Peninsula Allied Health Centre, Derriford Road, Plymouth, PL6 8BH
- +44 1752 588850
- alec.rickard@plymouth.ac.uk

Profiles
Mr Alec Rickard
Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning)
School of Health Professions (Faculty of Health)
- Chronic pain
- Physiotherapy
- Back pain
- Pain management
- Musculoskeletal conditions
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Biography
Biography
I am currently the programme lead for the MPhysio (Hons) Physiotherapy programme, having previously led the BSc (Hons) programme. I have also previously been the admissions and year-1 stage tutor for many years, plus I am also the academic liaison person for Plymouth University's validated courses at the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCNO), London. I have experience of multi- and inter-disciplinary teaching and support of students from various other programmes, including the MSc Advanced Professional Practice and Non-Medical Prescribing programmes and also previously acted as programme lead for the DipHE in Operating Department Practice.
Qualifications
Qualifications
1997 BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, University of Hertfordshire
2006 General Teaching Associate’s course (LTHE300 module), University of Plymouth,
(leading to 'Associate of the Higher Education Academy')
2007 Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, University of Plymouth
2014 MSc in Health and Social Care Education
Clinical background
1997 - 1999 Rotational Junior Physiotherapist, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow
1998 - 2000 Physiotherapist, Wembley Mill Hill Ladies Football Club, London
1999 - 2000 Senior II Physiotherapist, Musculoskeletal Outpatients, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow
2000 - 2001 Senior II Physiotherapist, Musculoskeletal Outpatients/Pain Management, Torbay Hospital, Torquay
2001 - 2003 Senior I Physiotherapist, Pain Management, Torbay Hospital, Torquay
2003 - 2005 Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist (and Extended Scope Practitioner) in Pain Management, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth
Professional membership
1997-to date Registered Physiotherapist with Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC – formerly HPC and CPSM)
1997-to date Member of Chartered Society in Physiotherapy (MCSP)
2001-to date Member of the Physiotherapy Pain Association
2003 - 2010 Member of the British Pain Society
2007-to date Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Roles on external bodies
2007-to date CSP - moderator for the admissions tutors' network on iCSP
2007-to 2012 CSP admissions tutor’s forum; Vice chair 2010-11 and Chair 2011-12
2008-2009 Aimhigher/SWLLLN: Higher Education Advocate for the Society, Health and Development Diploma
2012-to 2014 Invited member CSP e-learning strategy steering group
2017-to date CSP South West Regional Network committee (Chair from 2021)
Teaching
Teaching
Teaching interests
BSc (Hons) /MPhysio (Hons) / MSc pre-registration Physiotherapy
- Module lead for various module over the years, including Anatomy & Physiology, Applied Movement Science and Movement in Health and Disease
- teaching/facilitating: Muscoloskeletal, Complex Case Management and Problem-Based Learning/Enquiry Based Learning
Previously:
EOE3414 Sports Injuries
MSc Work and Wellbeing - Module lead WWB503 Facilitating change: the person, work and environment
MSc Advanced Professional Practice (Work and Wellbeing) - module lead ADV701 Contemporary Issues in Work and Wellbeing
Masterclasses (condition management/return to work)
Non-medical prescribing/Supplementary Prescribing for Health Professionals (Associate tutor) - level 6 and 7
Staff serving as external examiners
2016-2019 BS(Hons) Physiotherapy, Manchester Metropolitan University
Publications
Publications
Lepesis, V., Marsden, J., Paton, J., Rickard, A., & Latour, J. M. (2022). Experiences of foot and ankle mobilisations combined with home stretches in people with diabetes: a qualitative study embedded in a proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial. Journal of foot and ankle research, 15(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13047-022-00512-z
Rickard, A. (2017) Chapter 2: The Biopsychosocial Model: An Overview, in Porter, S. (Ed.) Psychologically Informed Physiotherapy. Elsevier.
Chamberlain, A. Munro, W. & Rickard, A. (2013) Chapter 14: Muscle imbalance in Porter, S. (Ed.) Tidy’s Physiotherapy. 15th ed. Churchill Livingstone, DOI
Walsh E., Barrett J., Beeson J., Zammit M., Rickard A. (2017) A randomised crossover trial investigating actual and perceived changes in peak knee extensor torque following Kinesio Tape® application. Poster (and Rapid 5 presentation) at Physiotherapy UK 2017, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Birmingham.
Rickard, A.G. (2007) Living with chronic pain. Invited speaker to the Lupus UK Annual National Convention, Plymouth, May 2007. Printed in Lupus UK News.
Rickard, A.G. (2007) The use of online conferencing/managed learning environments to support PBL. Presentation to HEA Subject Centre for Health Sciences and Practice PBL SIG meeting 'The use of technology to enrich PBL', Carlisle, 03/2007.
Lepesis, V., Marsden, J, Letour, J., Paton, J & Rickard, A. (2023) Foot and ankle mobilisation in diabetic peripheral neuropathy: single site, proof-of-concept (PoC), assessor blinded randomized controlled trial (RCT). Poster presentation, 9th International Symposium on the Diabetic Foot, 10-13 May 2023, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Walsh E., Barrett J., Beeson J., Zammit M., Rickard A. (2017) A randomised crossover trial investigating actual and perceived changes in peak knee extensor torque following Kinesio Tape® application. Poster (and Rapid 5 presentation) at Physiotherapy UK 2017, Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, Birmingham.
Rickard, A. (2017) The experiences and expectations of return-to-work input in people with chronic pain: are we progressing? Poster at the South West AHP conference 15.3.17, Taunton.
Rickard, A.G. Tipping, L. & Westcott, L. (2010) Do you ask the work question? Poster at the NHS Southwest AHP conference (Awarded 2nd place), Bridgwater, 03/2010.
Rickard, A.G. & Yorke, J. (2008) ePBL: Investigating online resources to support problem based learning in physiotherapy education. Paper presentation at IASTED Web Based Education conference, March 2008, Innsbruck Austria (Abstract available at: http://www.actapress.com/Abstract.aspx?paperId=32880).
Knott, L. & Rickard, A. (2003) Integrating biopsychosocial assessment into care pathways for low back pain. Poster presentation at The Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting, April 2003, Glasgow UK.
Personal
Personal
Other academic activities
2007-to date Faculty Professional Issues Committee
2007 - 2011 Academic member of Torbay Care Trust Placement Development Team
2008 - 2011 Aimhigher Healthcare Strand Steering Group
2009 - 2012 University Recruitment and Admissions Committee Faculty representative and Qualifications sub-group committee member
2012-to date Academic liaison officer for the British College of Osteopathic Medicine