Sport & exercise
Sports therapy guide
Interested in studying a degree in sports therapy? Check out our helpful guide on sports therapy. Discover what sports therapy is, which courses are available to study in sports therapy, progression, career options and more.
What is sports therapy?
Sports therapy is one of the fastest-growing careers in the sports and healthcare sector. Similar to physiotherapy, a sports therapist will be able to diagnose, treat and prevent injuries by implementing rehabilitation programmes to restore full fitness in the field of sports, exercise and health.
How to get into sports therapy?
A great way of getting into sports therapy is through studying a course at the University. This will teach you the fundamental principles and advanced skills to become a graduate sports therapist.
At University of Gloucestershire, we offer an undergraduate course in sports therapy.
Do I need a degree in sports therapy to get a job?
Although you do not need to study a sports therapy degree to practice as a sports therapist in the UK, many jobs require a degree-level qualification.
Studying sports therapy will enable you to gain membership with the society of sports therapists.
This membership is important for members of the public looking for sports therapists so they can be secure in the knowledge that the person treating them has undergone relevant training and has the necessary skills and knowledge to apply any appropriate treatment or give advice.
What sports therapy degrees can I study?
You can study sports therapy at both an undergraduate and postgraduate level. At University of Gloucestershire, we offer a Bachelor’s of Science sports therapy degree (undergraduate), as well as a Master’s of Science sports therapy degree (postgraduate).
Usually, you would study for an undergraduate degree after finishing your A-Levels, BTEC’s or equivalent qualifications, and study a postgraduate or Master’s degree after you have graduated from an undergraduate course.
Sports therapy undergraduate degree
Our undergraduate Sports Therapy BSc (Hons) course is underpinned by sports science disciplines and will equip you with the skills to prevent, assess and rehabilitate sports injuries.
You’ll get the opportunity to work with touring international teams and will also gain experience with medicine professionals such as sports doctors, orthopedic surgeons, podiatrists and chiropractors.
Sports therapy postgraduate degree
Our Sports Therapy MSc course is highly practical and will equip you with a unique set of skills within the field of sports science, preparing you for a rewarding career in an exciting and emerging profession.
The course is designed to prepare sports science graduates to work as graduate sports therapists, delivering a full set of competencies within the elite and amateur sectors, from soft tissue therapies and joint mobilisations, to pitch-side first aid, taping and strapping.
What will I study in a sports therapy degree?
A sports therapy degree course would often include modules such as anatomy and physiology, biomechanics, manual therapy of peripheral joints, rehabilitation of sports injuries and injury management and therapeutic modalities.
You will focus on the management of injuries for maximum sports performance, including the prevention, assessment and rehabilitation of injuries.
You will also develop skills such as sports massage, advanced injury diagnosis, joint mobilisations and rehabilitation.
What can I do with a sports therapy degree?
There are many options available to sports therapy graduates, from earning a salary to furthering your studies at postgraduate level. Check out some of the options below:
- Study at postgraduate level
- Multidisciplinary or Sports Injury Clinics
- Sports teams
- Exercise therapist
- Teaching in Further Education
- Lecturing
- Research
What sports therapy jobs will I be able to do?
Most sports therapy graduates would go on to work as sports therapists. This could be within a range of environments from treating elite athletes to teaching specialist exercise groups.
As a sports therapist, you are usually part of a wider team of trainers, managers and doctors. Jobs are available throughout the UK. If you work with sports teams you’ll need to be prepared to travel nationally and possibly internationally.
Sports therapists help their patients in a number of ways including:
- Giving massages and applying strapping and taping techniques to provide support
- Examining and assessing injuries
- Designing and implementing rehabilitation and detox programmes
- Giving first aid if required
- Helping to prepare athletes mentally and physically
- Accompanying injured athletes to appointments.
Most sports therapists are self-employed. Typical employers include sports injury clinics, professional and amateur sports teams or clubs, health and fitness clubs and sports and leisure centres.
Sports therapists may also go on to work in other sport-related roles such as teaching, coaching, personal training, exercise physiology or sports development.
Why choose to study sports therapy at University of Gloucestershire?
You’ll have the opportunity to work with touring international teams. Students have previously worked with Tonga and Samoa Rugby Union and Team Malawi Olympic athletes.
You’ll treat athletes from our professional sports teams, international sports scholars and members of the public including local firefighters and police officers.
You’ll learn in fully-equipped ped sports therapy suites, physiology and biomechanics labs, with gold-standard equipment such as full-body vacuum mattresses, diagnostic ultrasound, RS foot scan, body-pod and Vicon 3D motion analysis.
Interested in studying a sports therapy degree?
Interested in studying a sport therapy degree at the University? Applications for undergraduate sports therapy degrees are made through UCAS, while applications for postgraduate sport management degrees are made directly to the university.
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