POLOKWANE – The 20-year-old from Thune village in Ga-Mmamabolo is currently a B.Sc physiotherapy student at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (Medunsa).
She says her love and passion for sport and physical well-being pushed her to train in physiotherapy.
“I started playing netball and becoming involved in athletics when I was in Gr 3, I was actually playing with the older players. I think my height and overall performance played a major role in that. In Gr 3 I played with the Gr 7’s and when I played with the Gr 12’s, my position was always goal defence, goal shooter, and goal attack,” she said laughing.
Currently playing for the Medunsa netball team, Magagane has also played for the Silver Stars, Mentz and the Golden netball team in Thune.
“My main reason for choosing to pursue a career in physiotherapy is because I once sprained my ankle and was frustrated because it meant I had to sit back in order to heal before I could go back to playing netball. I did not know how to help myself and to heal faster and this pushed me even more to choose this course. I want to specialise in sport-related injuries, both on the field and in the office, and open my own practice one day,” she said.
Physiotherapy, according to Magagane, who is already doing her practical at Mankweng Hospital, has a lot to do with posture, massages where thermal agents such as hot pads and infrareds are used after the massage, delayed milestones and neurological problems in children where they assist paediatricians, bones, correcting bone abnormalities, both in adults and children.
It also encompasses providing therapy after major surgery, passive movements to prevent pressure sores and contractions, mainly in patients that are non-mobile.
She states she never thought she would be hospital-bound, thinking she would spend more time out in the field. Having worked with patients who suffer from mild to severe conditions, she advises people to take extra precautions with their health and to keep an active lifestyle, eat healthily and not be small-minded and ignorant when it comes to illness and sickness.
