Carla Bickerstaffe Sports Massage

🥏🥏World U23 Ultimate Frisbee Championships🥏🥏

Amazing time working at .wjuc as part of the medical team alongside Dom, Kenny and Andrew 🤩🤩

Such a supportive, encouraging and fun group of people to work with which makes all the long hours absolutely worth it!

Plenty of opportunities to learn, discuss ideas and continue growing and developing as a therapist; I’ve racked up hours of taping, soft tissue work, rehab advice and return to play advice. I’ve had difficult conversations about removing members from play and referring for specialist care when needed, but those conversations were always done in a supportive and encouraging environment and manner for both myself and the athlete.

I’m super grateful for every opportunity I’ve been given during the Championships working pitchside and in the medical room and even getting to use my new ultrasound scanning skills!

Now some downtime until the next one! ✌🏼

Another great CPD day today with and learning about the new Ten second triage with theory and major incident practical 👍🏼 Always great to learn from people who do the job for real! Love the opportunity to get out and have a hands on practice of skills, plus it’s a great chance to catch up with other like-minded people. Thanks as always for a great day! 💪🏼

🌟🌟Reunited with these two legends today🌟🌟

Today has been a great day!! Super excited, proud and privileged to be working with these two legends again in preparation for their mammoth world record trek attempt.

After meeting as part of TeamUK for the Invictus Games, it’s been great to get to know Rick and Dickie and work with them at the games and then again now 😊

I can honestly say they are 2 of the nicest, most hard working people I know and they’re absolute true role models for anyone out there able-bodied or not; the huge trekking challenge is an inspiration for everyone!

Link here if you’d like to support their challenge and read a bit more about it 😊 https://www.justgiving.com/team/the-limbitless-expedition

Another great weekend in purple!! 😊 Always a super happy bunny to work with an amazing group of doctors, nurses, physios, paramedics and first aiders of

Plenty of learning, catching up with old friends and making new ones too! One big medical family and I’m so proud to be part of the team. 🥰

Manchester marathon ✅

Until the next one… ✌🏼

It’s been an amazing week supporting Bassetlaw Swim Squad on their training camp in Lanzarote. A privilege to get to know and work with the coaches and swimmers and see everyone develop over the week. Thankyou to everyone for having me on your camp in a multitude of roles!! 😂✌🏼

The new first aid kit getting an outing to the sun whilst supporting in Lanzarote. Such a useful and practical piece of kit 👌🏼 oh and it looks 🔥

Not a bad office for a week supporting in Lanzarote 😎☀️ Wearing multiple hats this week!! 😂😂

That’s it! My last day of work is done for 2023 and it’s time for a well earned break!! (Even if I do say so myself! 😂) 2023 has been full of the most amazing opportunities and I can’t thank everyone enough that has supported me this year; you’ve all been fabulous!!

I’m off work now until Tuesday 9th January 2024 so I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!! 🎄🥂

I hope everyone gets a chance to have a little downtime and enjoy some form of a break over the festive period, and for those who may find themselves feeling alone or a little bit down please reach out; there’s always someone willing to listen 🥰

Here’s to hopefully another amazing year in 2024!! ✌🏼

Here we go!! 🚣🏼‍♀️💪🏼 Good luck everyone competing!! Have fun and go smash it!! 😊👍🏼💪🏼

A last minute addition to the schedule; but this weekend I’ll be heading to Indoor Championships in Birmingham as part of the medical team. 🤩

Excited to be part of another new sport for me and looking forward to seeing what amazing performances everyone does. Might even get to catch up with some of the too hopefully!

Good luck everyone taking part!! 💪🏼👍🏼

This weekend was TeamUK’s homecoming celebration at Alton Towers and for me it was a bittersweet weekend. From being back with the TeamUK family reminiscing, hearing about all the amazing things people have already achieved, hearing about all the exciting future projects and spending a wonderful time being back in each others company; but then the realisation that it’s all over for 2023! 🥹🥹

It’s been an amazing experience and I’m forever grateful to Royal British Legion for selecting me as part of the Medical team to support team UK.

To the competitors; It’s been a privilege to play a small role in each of your recovery journeys and I am SO PROUD that you shared your stories with me and trusted me to help you at the games!! 🤩🥰

This weekend was the perfect way to celebrate everything that everyone has achieved and what is yet to come; it felt like coming home to family 😍😍

I genuinely hope I’m able to support future Invictus Games teams, I have loved being a part of this family. To have the opportunity to continue to learn and grow myself as a therapist would be amazing and an honour.

THANKYOU all for the love, support, friendships, memories and for being unapologetically you!!!

You are INVICTUS and you are UNCONQUERABLE; Anything IS possible!

Until next time……. ✌🏼

So I’ve finally had a chance to reflect on my time away with the amazing at the Invictus Games in Düsseldorf this year.

Where do I start?! What an amazing Games!! 🇬🇧

Before I left on the whirlwind 10day trip my anxiety was through the roof and I was so scared about the whole thing; would I enjoy it? Would people get on with me? Can I really do this?! I imagine pretty much what all our competitors were feeling too!!

But with the help and support of fabulous people around me the past 10days have been amazing; I’ve met so many incredible people along this journey that I’m honoured to now call friends, I’ve learnt it’s ok to be scared and anxious but you should try and do it anyway, there’s always a way or someone to help you if you ask. I’ve laughed so much and had so much fun each and every day. It’s been super tiring, I’ve worked long hours each day and it’s been so emotional - I’ve shed quite a few tears this week! 🥹🥹 But I’d do it all again in a heartbeat without hesitation!!

I feel honoured that and Team UK selectors gave me the opportunity to be on the medical team and play a small part in the competitors recovery. It truly was a privilege.

I’ve made so many fantastic memories and shared special moments with truly incredible people. said “process over prizes and courage over credit” at the closing ceremony after singing the song that TeamUK chose as their walkout song. That sums up TeamUK; selected to help with their recovery from their injury or illness and all having their own individual targets, goals and fears to overcome.

To my fellow Medical Team members; THANKYOU, I couldn’t have asked for a better bunch to work with 🤩

To the competitors; you are truly a special bunch of people, you’re all on amazing journeys. Thankyou for sharing them with me. Watching you grow and achieve what you wanted along your journey has been inspirational - keep being you and build on everything you’ve started this week! I’m SO SO PROUD of you all!!

Finally to all the coaches, RBL staff and everyone behind the scenes; THANKYOU for making this games happen - you smashed it!!

Bring on Canada!! 🇨🇦 ✌🏼

Invictus Games Day 8 - Competition Day 6 🇬🇧

This team?!?! What can I say??!!

I am so incredibly PROUD to have been on the bench to support this sitting volleyball team! To see the growth in each and every one of them has been incredible; from where they started to having just 8 days together as a team and reaching a bronze medal match - AMAZING!!

Sometimes sport can be a cruel beast and things don’t go our way, I know finishing 4th probably wasn’t the result many of you hoped for but I hope you can look back on your journey and remember your ‘why’?!

The teamwork, the resilience, the progress, the growth, the determination, the list goes on….

I hope you carry on the sport; you’re all Superstars and the talent you have is incredible!

Thankyou for letting me play a tiny part and share the journey with you! 🤩🤩🥰🥹

And remember you knocked out Team USA! 😊

Last day tomorrow!

Let’s go Team UK 🇬🇧

Invictus Games Day 8 - Competition Day 5 🇬🇧

Today was all about the sitting volleyball team for me and having some time to have a bit of fun with the rest of the med team 😂👍🏼

The sitting volleyball team won both their pool games and progress to the quarterfinals tomorrow morning 💪🏼

Then myself, Laura, Steph and Stu headed out to explore the Invictus Games Village and a VIP Chinook experience thanks to Steph! 😂🤦🏼‍♀️

Here’s to another great day tomorrow and then it’s almost home time!! 🥹🥹

Royal British Legion Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023