Bridget’s recent stay in Chicago gave her the chance to experience sport and rehabilitation in a fast-paced university athletics environment. As part of her development as a Sport and Exercise Therapy practitioner, she spent time with the Athletic Medicine team at the University of Illinois Chicago, home of the UIC Flames, learning from a setting where elite preparation is part of everyday campus life.
The placement gave Bridget valuable exposure to the demands of NCAA Division I sport, where athletes train, compete and recover across a busy calendar. During her time at UIC, she helped support athletes from a range of Flames teams, including soccer, basketball, volleyball, tennis and baseball. Each sport brought different movement patterns, injury risks and rehabilitation needs, giving her the opportunity to broaden her understanding of athlete care in a high-performance setting.
Working alongside experienced sports medicine professionals, Bridget was able to see how injury prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and return-to-play planning all connect in training rooms, at practice and around competitive preparation. It was also a chance to experience the culture of American college sport first-hand — something Bridget, a long-time fan of American sports, found especially rewarding.
The experience in Chicago helped Bridget build confidence, develop practical skills and deepen her understanding of how athletes are supported both on and off the field. It also reinforced the importance of clear communication, teamwork and individualised care when helping people recover from injury and return to doing what they love.
