Abbie
MPhysiotherapy - Sport and Exercise Medicine
For Abbie, a love of sport and a drive to help others have all come together in her MPhysiotherapy - Sport and Exercise Medicine degree.
From hands-on learning in class, to placements in Zambia and pitch-side experience with football clubs, Abbie’s time at Bradford has shown her just how wide and rewarding the world of physiotherapy can be.
This is her story.
I discovered my course by chance on an Open Day.
A passion for sport and how people work
"I came to Bradford straight after college where I studied sport, sociology and psychology."
"I enjoyed all three subjects, but sport has always been a big passion of mine. I’ve always been into long-distance running. I’ve done half marathons and since starting at the University I’m now part of a local running club in Bradford.
"I’ve also been a member of the climbing and swimming societies, and I still climb and swim regularly.
"My first visit to Bradford was to look at the physiotherapy course on an Open Day.
"When I arrived, I found out about the MPhysiotherapy – Sport and Exercise Medicine course.
"It immediately caught my attention because it combined everything I loved about sport with a professional physiotherapy qualification.
"The course is quite unique as you don’t find it offered in many other places, and it felt like the perfect fit for me. The Open Day really confirmed that Bradford was where I wanted to study."
Hands-on, practical learning
"From the very beginning, we’ve learnt by doing."
"A lot of our classes involve practising on each other, such as locating bony landmarks, testing movement, and applying what we’ve learnt directly to real people. In anatomy, we literally drew blood vessels and nerves on each other to understand how they connect.
"Our first module was a massage module which meant we all got comfortable with each other very quickly! It set the tone for the rest of the course. We’re a close group, and the hands-on approach has really helped everything sink in."
Placements have definitely been the highlight.
Placement in Zambia
"I’ve had a wide range of placements and each one has given me something completely different."
"One of my biggest opportunities was a placement in Zambia, which I organised myself through family connections. I stayed with a family friend and worked alongside physiotherapists in a hospital.
"Physiotherapy there is very different; it’s much broader and more resourceful.
"The physios did everything from x-rays and casting, to rehabilitation.
"It was eye-opening and made me appreciate how adaptable healthcare professionals need to be in different settings."
Applying what I've learnt
"I’ve also had some brilliant experiences closer to home."
"One of my lecturers works for a local football club and I’ve been lucky to go along and support on match days. I help with pre-match strapping and massage, and I’ve even run onto the pitch to help with injuries. It’s been amazing to apply what I’ve learnt.
"Recently, we had a session about female athletes and their specific needs, and the physio from Halifax Town Women’s FC came in. I spoke with her afterwards and now have the opportunity to go and support the team as part of my practical experience.
"Every placement has taught me something new."
Before university, I only really knew about sports physiotherapy. Placements have opened my eyes to how diverse the field is.
Neuro and paediatrics have really stood out to me
"It’s incredibly rewarding work."
"In neuro physiotherapy I’ve worked with people recovering from strokes, Parkinson’s, brain injuries, and brain tumours in outpatient clinics and community settings.
"The approach changes depending on the condition. For stroke patients, the goal might be regaining function. For Parkinson’s, it’s about slowing progression and maintaining independence.
"In paediatrics I’ve worked with children, from newborns to 16-year-olds, both in hospital and in the community.
"One day you might be helping a baby with clubfoot, the next you’re supporting a child with Down’s syndrome. The variety is huge and I love it."
Communicating with confidence
"Being a student ambassador has shaped who I am."
"I’ve been a student ambassador since my first year, and it’s one of the best things I’ve done. It’s flexible and really varied, from speaking in assemblies and careers fairs, to running campus tours and mock interviews with school students.
"It’s also built my confidence massively. During my paediatrics placement a lot of my feedback was about how well I communicate with people of all ages. I think that comes from the ambassador role where I learnt to adapt my communication for different people."
Taking my skills abroad
"Physiotherapy is something you can do anywhere, which is one of the things I love about it."
"I’ve been looking at New Zealand or Australia because I think there’s a lot to learn from how different healthcare systems approach physio. Eventually I’d like to specialise in neuro or paediatrics, or even combine that with sports physiotherapy. I’m keeping my options open.
"If you get involved with everything, use your connections, and be proactive in finding opportunities, everything will fall into place."