Sports Therapy, BSc (Hons) Degree Course

Program Overview

The Sports Therapy BSc (Hons) Degree Course at UCLan equips students with the skills to manage athlete rehabilitation and recovery. The program offers a comprehensive understanding of sports therapy theory and practice through a combination of lectures, tutorials, and practical sessions. Students gain real-world experience through paid placements and benefit from strong industry links with professional and semi-professional sports clubs. Graduates are prepared for careers in private practice, professional sports, and the NHS.

Program Outline

Sports Therapy, BSc (Hons) Degree Course - UCLan

Degree Overview:

This program is designed to equip students with the specialist skills and knowledge needed to manage an athlete's rehabilitation and recovery, playing a crucial role in helping them reach peak performance. The course focuses on both theoretical and practical aspects of sports therapy, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the field.

Objectives:

• Gain critical sports therapy theory and hands-on skills.
• Develop expertise in caring, managing, and rehabilitating sportspeople.
• Assist athletes with injury assessments and sport-specific rehabilitation programs.
• Understand the underpinning principles of sports science and strength and conditioning.
• Explore functional rehabilitation and contemporary approaches in sports injury management.
• Gain practical experience in industry-standard sports facilities.
• Build clinical practice experience through paid placements.
• Develop a strong understanding of the industry through connections with over 120 placement providers across the North West.

Outline:

The program is structured over three years and includes a range of modules designed with the support of the Society of Sports Therapists (SST).

• Physiology for Sports and Exercise Therapy: Explores how normal physiology and pathological processes impact human movement, focusing on the response to exercise and various body systems.
• Anatomy: Provides fundamental anatomical knowledge of the neuromusculoskeletal system, covering gross anatomy, anatomical landmarks, surface anatomy, and the relationship between structure and function.
• Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice 1: Introduces the research process in clinical practice and university, focusing on evidence-based practice and basic data analysis.
• Foundations in Therapy and Practice: Introduces principles and practice of basic examination and assessment techniques for soft tissue therapy, exploring physiological, therapeutic, and psychological effects.
• Management: Treatment and Referral in Sports Injury: Develops the role of a Sports Therapist in handling acute injuries, recognizing and managing common injuries, illnesses, and trauma associated with sport and exercise.

Year 2:

Compulsory Modules:

• Screening Techniques for Sports Injury Prevention: Provides knowledge on monitoring athletes to minimize injury risks, identifying and evaluating screening strategies and training methods.
• Manual Therapy for Sports Injuries: Progresses students from basic concepts to managing sports injuries through knowledge, application, and analysis.
• Soft Tissue Therapy and Practice: Develops professional practice through experiential learning in a sport massage environment, focusing on interpersonal skills and career development.
• Rehabilitation of Sports Injury: Develops knowledge of rehabilitation principles and processes, implementing effective exercise programs and evaluating current rehabilitative processes.
• Functional Anatomy and Pathology in Assessment: Progresses students to managing sports injuries through knowledge, application, and analysis, applying comprehensive examination and assessment techniques.
• Research Methods and Evidence Based Practice 2: Develops critical understanding of evidence-based practice, research design, methodology, and data analysis techniques.
• Functional Rehabilitation: Fosters critical comprehension of functional rehabilitation principles and their application to injury pathology and healing, emphasizing modern measures for monitoring progress.
• Dissertation: Allows students to independently explore a chosen topic related to their field of study, demonstrating academic skills through primary and secondary data collection.
• Sports Therapy and Clinical Practice: Develops professional practice through experiential learning in a sport, exercise, and health environment, focusing on interpersonal skills and career development.
• Complete Management of the Injured Athlete: Develops abilities in the holistic care of the injured athlete, requiring students to discriminate between different management approaches based on contemporary literature.
• Single Research Project: Provides the opportunity to conduct a major piece of independent literature-based research, developing management skills and integrating different aspects of the course.

Optional Modules:

• Work Based Learning: Reflects upon work-based experience, formulates a career plan, and develops a professional portfolio of evidence.
• Skills for Leadership and Business: Develops skills in basic business planning and understanding of structures and stakeholders in relation to the therapist's role.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Exams: Assess theoretical knowledge and understanding of concepts.
• Coursework: Includes essays, reports, presentations, and practical assignments.
• Practical Assessments: Demonstrate hands-on skills and clinical competency.
• Placement Reports: Evaluate practical experience gained during placements.
• Dissertation: A major research project that demonstrates independent research skills.

Teaching:

The program employs a range of teaching methods, including:

• Lectures: Deliver theoretical knowledge and concepts.
• Seminars: Focus on specific topics and involve active participation from students.
• Practical Sessions: Provide hands-on experience in sports facilities and clinics.
• Placements: Offer real-world experience in various sports settings.

Faculty:

The program is taught by a team of experienced professionals, including:

• Professional Therapists: Bring practical experience and industry knowledge to the classroom.
• Academics: Provide theoretical expertise and research-informed teaching.

Careers:

Graduates of this program are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the sports therapy field, including:

• Private Practice: Establishing their own sports therapy clinics.
• Professional and Semi-Professional Sports Clubs: Working with athletes in various sports.
• NHS: Working alongside other health professionals in healthcare settings.
• Research: Contributing to the advancement of sports therapy knowledge.

Other:

• The program is accredited by the Society of Sports Therapists (SST), making graduates eligible for full membership.
• Students have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including a sports arena, Sir Tom Finney Sports Centre, Movement Analysis Lab, and a student-led Sports Therapy and Sports Massage Clinic.
• Students gain an external qualification for FA Pitch side First Aid Qualification and a VTCT Level 4 Sports Massage Therapy qualification.
• The program has strong industry links with over 80 teams across the country, including Wigan Warriors, Everton FC, Preston North End, Blackpool FC, St Helens RFC, Burnley FC, Warrington Wolves, and Wakefield Trinity.
• The program offers a Football Player Development Pathway in partnership with Macclesfield FC, allowing students to train and play while completing their degree studies.

2024/25 UK Full-time £9,250 per year Part-time £1,540 per 20 credits International Full-time £16,500 per year