New CQ sports rehab Base Performance and Recovery opens ice baths, sauna, therapy and more

When his professional sporting career wrapped up, Central Queensland’s newest business owner used his expert knowledge as a driver to help others through pain.

The co-owner of a new sports rehabilitation centre says ending his elite athletics career helped him realise the importance of recovery.

Tom Ford opened Base Performance and Recovery on Paradise St, Paget, with his mother Robyn Ford and aunt Kelly Fletcher in June.

A former cyclist with National Road Series, Mr Ford said recovery had always been important during 20-to-30-hour training weeks.

“When I stopped my athletic career, I realised that recovery was just as important in your everyday life,” he said.

“I fell more in love with that aspect of my lifestyle.

Co-owner Tom Ford. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“What's surprising is the response not just from athletic people, but from all walks of life that are just looking after their health, whether physical or mental.”

Co-owner Kelly Fletcher was a wellbeing education coach for the Mackay Cutters and said the family had noticed “a real gap” in Central Queensland with elite athletes travelling south for rehab.

But she also said the techniques used at Base were for “anyone”.

Base Performance and Recovery on 153 Paradise Street, Paget in Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“There’s so many health benefits for all of us to be following the elite athletes’ (methods),” Ms Fletcher said.

“There’s a reason they’re recovering so quickly.

“(Base) gives everybody the opportunity to do holistic recovery techniques.”

Two baths – one ice cold at 8 degrees and another warm at 34 degrees – give people the chance to try contrast therapy.

Contrast therapy at Base Performance and Recovery. Photo: Contributed

Ms Fletcher said moving from the cold, which constricts the body, to the warm, which relaxes it, and vice versa helped the body recover from strain.

The experience shocks the body, but several minutes spent in each pool is designed to leave users feeling invigorated and ready to warm up.

Two traditional saunas, an infra-red sauna, compression boots, and a sensory deprivation tank are all on offer for the health-conscious.

Mr Ford said the idea for Base had been in the works for two years as local interest grew.

Traditional sauna, sensory deprivation tank, Normatec compression therapy, and infra-red sauna at Base Performance and Recovery. Photo: Contributed

Two repeat customers were Cohan Ross from Blacks Beach and Kereama Gartner from Walkerston, both keen footy players at just 15.

Already in the midst of pre-season training, the boys used their off day to invest in their recovery as much as exercise.

Cohen has visited seven times and said the holistic techniques were “worth it”.

“It feels really good after,” he said.

Kereama Gartner of Walkerston and Cohen Ross of Blacks Beach at Base Performance and Recovery in Paget, Mackay. Photo: Zoe Devenport

“When you go back to training, your body feels less sore.”

“Your body just feels so much more loose,” Kereama agreed.

Ms Fletcher said her treatment “might be more for arthritic pain (t0) get relief for inflammation” in painful joints.

“(But athletes have) the opportunity to improve their performance by making sure they recover properly,” she said.