MSc Football Rehabilitation

Summary 2012/13

• Specific focus on the knowledge, understanding and skills required to prepare you for the demands of professional football;
• Balance between practical and theoretical skills to prepare you for work in a multidisciplinary team;
• Delivered by staff and visiting lecturers with extensive work experience in professional football.

If you’re a registered practitioner of physiotherapy, sports therapy or equivalent, looking to enhance your professional practice within football rehabilitation, become a more rounded, holistic, evidence-based practitioner and advance the profession by engaging in practice-related research, then this programme could be for you.

2012 Entry Requirements

• 2:1 Honours Degree in physiotherapy or sports therapy or equivalent;
• HPC registered and member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and/or insured member of the Society of Sports Therapists;
• A minimum of two years relevant post graduation work experience;
• Evidence of suitable standard of English literacy and numeracy (e.g. GCSE passes at grade C in Mathematics and English or equivalent);
• Fitness to practice medical clearance;
• Enhanced CRB disclosure.

Summary 2013/14

• Specific focus on the knowledge, understanding and skills required to prepare you for the demands of professional football;
• Balance between practical and theoretical skills to prepare you for work in a multidisciplinary team;
• Delivered by staff and visiting lecturers with extensive work experience in professional football.

If you’re a registered practitioner of physiotherapy, sports therapy or equivalent, looking to enhance your professional practice within football rehabilitation, become a more rounded, holistic, evidence-based practitioner and advance the profession by engaging in practice-related research, then this programme could be for you.

2013 Entry Requirements

• 2:1 Honours Degree in physiotherapy or sports therapy or equivalent;
• HPC registered and member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists and/or insured member of the Society of Sports Therapists;
• A minimum of two years relevant post graduation work experience;
• Evidence of suitable standard of English literacy and numeracy (e.g. GCSE passes at grade C in Mathematics and English or equivalent);
• Fitness to practice medical clearance;
• Enhanced CRB disclosure.

Details

Who is this course for?

The programme is ideal for Graduate Physiotherapists and/or Sports Therapists with at least two years post-graduation experience, currently working within football in some capacity and keen to progress both academic and specific practical skills.

What will I gain from this programme?

This programme focuses on the knowledge, understanding and skills required to prepare you to meet the demands of professional football. With a good balance between practical and theoretical skills, a range of appropriate assessments help prepare you for work in a multidisciplinary team.

The programme does not guarantee access to employment within professional football but it will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and skills to meet the demands of such a role.

How we will support you

You will be allocated a personal tutor from the team of physiotherapy/sports therapy staff who will oversee your progress through the programme and advise you regarding your clinical practice hours. Alongside this, staff will be available to support you with face-to-face teaching slots, organised individual tutorial meetings, telephone discussions, use of the discussion forum in a virtual learning environment and e-mail contact.

What will I study?

There are various exit qualifications for this programme; Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and MSc.

The Postgraduate Certificate is ideally suited to those wishing to enhance their professional practice within football rehabilitation. It consists of two core modules that together form the foundations for working as a safe and effective evidence based practitioner within this field. It is ideal if you are not able to commit to full-time study but wish to enhance your practice and fulfil continuing professional development requirements.

The Postgraduate Diploma is an extension of the Postgraduate Certificate and aims to produce a more rounded holistic evidence-based practitioner, capable of embracing the multi-disciplinary nature of a medical and exercise science team within football. Alongside the two modules that provide the foundations of football rehabilitation, you will study modules on strength training and conditioning, preparation and planning for performance and research design and analysis.

As well as producing a rounded, holistic evidence-based practitioner, the MSc also looks to develop you into a practitioner keen and able to advance the profession by engaging in practice related research. In addition to the modules studied on the Postgraduate Diploma, the final stage of the MSc is your own independent research project where you will be required to conduct, with guidance, a piece of independent research related to rehabilitation in football.

How will I study?

The curriculum will be delivered in a blended approach with a combination of module study books providing problem based tasks, taught sessions at Edge Hill University delivered in intensive three day blocks, virtual learning environment support throughout the duration of study and candidates completing their own clinical experience.

Completion of the full MSc programme should take two years but a range of flexible options are available to meet the demands of those practising as physiotherapists and/or sports therapists.

Alongside the taught element of the modules, you will be required to complete, reflect upon, and report, relevant clinical experiential practice. It is your responsibility to ensure you have access to an appropriate environment to gain this clinical experience.

In total you should be prepared to give up 1,800 hours of time to complete the MSc, with 1,200 hours required for the Postgraduate Diploma and 600 hours for the Postgraduate Certificate.

Who will be teaching me?

You will be taught by physiotherapists and sports therapists with experience of working within football from grass roots to premiership level. The programme is also delivered by sports scientists with experience of providing scientific support for football players across the full performance spectrum. This team of staff will be complemented by lecturers from a range of services used to support the rehabilitation of football players, together with visits from current practitioners working in professional football.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment includes gym and field-based practical rehabilitation exams, oral vivas, literature review, presentation and clinical portfolio.

For the MSc, you will also complete an independent research project.

Further study at Edge Hill University

Following on from successful completion of your MSc Football Rehabilitation we would be keen to speak to candidates interested in the continued pursuit of relevant research in the form of MPhil/PhD.

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise and 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply online at www.ukpass.ac.uk.

Visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/applyukpass for more information on the application process.

Fees and Finance

Part-time postgraduate students in academic year 2012/13 will pay £250 per 10 credit module, £500 per 20 credit module and £1,500 per 60 credit module. 180 credits are required to complete the MSc. Information for UK and EU students only.

Edge Hill graduates joining an eligible postgraduate programme at the University in academic year 2012/13 could benefit from a 20% reduction in tuition fees. If you're a UK or EU student and will be paying the fees yourself, you might be eligible to receive this discount. See www.edgehill.ac.uk/reducedfees for more information.

Not got the entry requirements?

You must be a registered practitioner of physiotherapy, sports therapy or equivalent. Entry to the programme by students who do not meet the other entry requirements will be governed by ‘reasonable expectation’ that the candidate will be able to achieve the learning outcomes of the programme. Processes to ascertain this information are likely to include application, interview, development of an experience portfolio and in some cases completion of assessment. Where the interview panel deems appropriate, you may be requested to undertake Part II modules on the Edge Hill University BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science or BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy programmes (up to a maximum of 60 credits), an Edge Hill introductory postgraduate module and/or be permitted to undertake individual modules as continuing professional development (up to a maximum of 60 credits).

Where can I find out more?

If you would like to receive a copy of our prospectus or be kept updated about forthcoming events, contact the Course Information, Advice and Guidance Team by emailing study@edgehill.ac.uk or calling 01695 657000.

If you want to attend one of our open events held throughout the year, visit www.edgehill.ac.uk/postgradopendays to book your place.

You will also find Edge Hill University staff at many postgraduate study fairs taking place across the UK and Ireland.

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Mark Leather, Department of Sport and Physical Activity, Facult of Arts and Sciences, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 584544
• Email: Email: leatherm@edgehill.ac.uk

Modules

Many of these modules are available on a stand-alone basis to fulfil continuing professional development requirements and/or if you have an area of special interest.

SPT409 Injury and Rehabilitation in a Football Environment (30 credits): The module provides the student with an opportunity to develop practical and theoretical skills in the understanding of rehabilitation specific to football. It concentrates on the earlier stages of rehabilitation to and including later stage rehabilitation in the gymnasium setting. The module aims to link ‘on the pitch’ handling to further management and planning of care pathways available to the injured athlete. The module also provides the student with a sound base of certain strategies and policies that the Football Association adopts in respect of the prevention, recognition, reduction of injuries and the general welfare of the footballer.

SPT410 Currents Concepts in Football Rehabilitation (30 credits): The module concentrates on later stages of rehabilitation including the functional stage in field based setting. The module aims to link the earlier stages of rehabilitation with the need for detailed testing and training at the final stage prior to the footballer returning to train with the fit and healthy squad. The module provides the student with a platform to discuss and debate key current concepts and issues of football rehabilitation. A sound base of certain strategies and policies that the Football Association adopt in respect of the prevention, recognition, reduction of injuries and the general welfare of the footballer is also discussed.

SPT411 Preparation, Planning and Performance in Football (20 credits): A multi-disciplinary consideration of sport and exercise science within football. The module considers factors pertinent to the role performed by sport and exercise scientists at professional football clubs, considering all aspects of the physical and physiological development and preparation of players. The periodisation of the competitive season and training week, the nutritional demands of professional sport, the trainability of those physiological systems contributing to performance, and the increasing use of innovative technologies are all considered within this module. The module also investigates the overlap between scientist and sport/physiotherapist and their integration within a sports medicine team.

SPT403 Research Design and Analysis (20 credits): This module offers the opportunity to further develop the necessary skills to design, analyse and critically evaluate research within the field of football rehabilitation. Approaches and quality issues associated with research designs will be examined and students will also be offered the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and understanding of statistical procedures. There is no intention that the module will address all statistical needs but will provide a platform to enable you to develop additional statistical skills through the remainder of their programme. The skills developed during this module are helpful for practitioners keen to examine the ever expanding and sometimes equivocal evidence base that underpins their practice.

SPT404 Current Issues in Strength Training and Conditioning (20 credits): The aim of this module is to develop knowledge in the area of strength training and conditioning through analysing current research and practical issues in the area. The module embraces a range of strength and conditioning practices that could be applied within a football setting to prevent injury, aid full rehabilitation and enhance performance. This approach should provide you with an ideal foundation to achieve further qualifications in strength and conditioning such as the UK strength and conditioning association (UKSCA) accreditation or become a NSCA certified strength and conditioning specialist.

SPT408 Research Project (60 credits): The module is designed to provide the academic and practical skills necessary to independently undertake a piece of research of near-publishable quality within a relevant football rehabilitation topic. Specifically, the module allows students to undertake a comprehensive critical review of literature and to select appropriate methods and analytical procedures to conduct original research in a self-chosen topic. The skills developed during this module are essential for engaging in further research, public presentations and publications in your future career. By completing this module, you should embrace the challenge of advancing the profession of football rehabilitation.