Sports Therapist 



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What is a Sports Therapist?

As a sports therapist, you'll provide an immediate response when sport and exercise-related injuries occur and will rehabilitate the patient back to full fitness. You'll also provide advice and support to help prevent injuries from happening in the first place.

Your work will be based on the principles of sport and exercise science, using physical techniques to help the patient and developing rehabilitation and injury prevention plans.

Patients can be adults or children who are involved in sport or fitness at amateur or professional level, or for general fitness and recreational purposes.

If injuries or health-related issues go beyond your scope of practice, you'll refer the patient to an appropriate healthcare professional.

You can find sports therapy work in sports injury clinics or directly with a sports club or sportsperson, either professional or amateur. Many therapists combine working in this discipline with other sports-related roles.


Taken from Prospects 2023 

Qualifications 

There are sports therapists in the UK that do not hold a degree however it is suggested that most jobs now do ask for you to hold a degree level qualification and be a member of  The Society of Sports Therapists (SST).

To become a member of The SST, you'll need to have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree accredited by them. Although not essential, membership is a good idea as it shows employers and clients that you have met certain criteria and are able to work at the necessary level as a sports therapist. 

If you haven't taken an accredited first degree, or you have a degree in another subject, ideally sport and exercise or similar, you could consider taking an accredited Masters in sports therapy.

It's also a requirement of The SST that you have a valid and physically assessed first aid certificate, which you must maintain to keep your membership.

Alternative qualifications are also available at different levels, but do your research to make sure each qualification meets your career aims and allows you to find work as a sports therapist.

If you're working with children you will need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check (England and Wales) or equivalent check in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Employers

Most sports therapists are either self-employed or have two or more part-time jobs. Alternatively, they could be doing a combination of both options. This means you could be working for different types of employer at the same time.

Opportunities exist in:


Taken from Prospects 2023

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