The Invictus Games is an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick service members and veterans, with adaptive sports to promote recovery, rehabilitation, and respect for those who serve. In this episode of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, Part 2 our series on 'Working With Athletes With Disabilities', we are joined by two of this year's Team UK competitors, Sam May & Gemma Barnes who, together with Sports therapist Carla Bickerstaffe & Massage Therapist Jenny Lane, give us a hugely valuable insight into being part of the Invictus Games, from the perspective of a competitor and as a member of the therapy support team.
This episode emphasizes the therapeutic power of sport in recovery and the vital role of therapists in supporting athletes' physical and emotional journeys. Join us as we uncover the stories of resilience, camaraderie, and triumph over adversity, and learn how these games are not just about winning medals but also about healing and personal growth. Tune in to gain insights into working with athletes with disabilities and explore how the support of attentive therapists like Carla and Jenny can spark remarkable transformations.
Chapter Markers:
- 00:00:00 - Welcome to the Sports Therapy Association Podcast
- 00:02:40 - Meet the Guests: Sam May, Gemma Barnes, Carla Bickerstaffe & Jenny Lane
- 00:04:24 - Understanding the Invictus Games
- 00:07:01 - The Journey of Recovery
- 00:09:24 - The Role of Sports Therapy
- 00:12:17 - Service and Identity
- 00:14:17 - Working with the Invictus Team
- 00:18:30 - Therapist Selection Process Insights
- 00:20:21 - Skills of the Medical Team
- 00:24:15 - Challenges Faced as a Therapist
- 00:25:45 - Emotional Resilience
- 00:28:17 - Transitioning Back to Reality
- 00:31:29 - Reflections on the Experience
- 00:41:08 - The Journey Beyond Medals
- 00:42:02 - Memorable Moments from the Games
- 00:46:08 - Finding Joy in Competition
- 00:52:00 - The Impact of Teamwork
- 00:57:37 - Navigating Post-Games Reality
- 00:57:51 - Closing Thoughts and Future Episodes in this Series
Useful Links
- Invictus Games Webpage
- Sam May on Instagram @sam_raf_invictus
- Carla Bickerstaffe on Instagram @sportstherapybycarla
- Jenny Lane on Instagram @jennylane.sportsmassage
Want to join the live recordings? Episodes of the Sports Therapy Association podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available. Please Support Our Podcast! If you appreciate what we do, please take a couple of minutes to leave us a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. It really does make all the difference in helping us reach out to a larger audience. iPhone users you can do this from your phone, Android users you will need to do it from iTunes. Questions? Email: matt@thesta.co.uk
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