Critical Enquiry and Academic Skills for Sports Therapy provides you with the necessary foundation skills to study at degree level and will include an introduction to the research and study skills required to investigate issues within the domain of sports therapy.  Specifically, the module is designed to help you develop essential intellectual and study skills in order to search for published literature, write scientifically and employ clinical reasoning in the analysis and interpretation of published work. An initiation to statistics theory, statistical analysis methods and qualitative methods of research will be explored.

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology provides an overview of the fundamental concepts of physiology and anatomy and their relative function in sports therapy. The module equips you with a knowledge of both the structure and function of various physiological systems and the gross anatomy of the human structure. The exploration of these theoretical concepts will be supplemented by additional laboratory sessions which will help develop relevant laboratory-based competencies in line with the professional standards required of a sport therapy practitioner.

Introduction to Exercise Therapy provides you with knowledge and understanding of the basic principles of implementing exercise, games and activities for a healthy population. The environment used will be a mixture of gymnasium, pool and outdoor practical spaces providing you with a wide range of practice-based settings in which you will begin to develop your exercise as rehabilitation skills. The key areas of  focus for the module will be initial personal characteristics in terms of voice, manner, enthusiasm and reaction to situations and events. Attention will also be given to more organisational skills such as time management and the planning and preparation of certain tasks. You will be expected to use your own initiative and imagination in developing game/activity plans for pairs, small groups and team-related exercises and be able to reflect on the outcome of these tasks.

Introduction to Kinesiology helps you to understand the physical and mechanical principles that determine movement and interaction with objects during exercise and sports performance. The module will introduce you to key concepts such as force, mass, speed, velocity, acceleration and momentum. You will explore how these concepts enable us to describe and understand movement and musculoskeletal injury.  You will gain hands-on experience in video analysis and force plate analysis for the evaluation of technique and the measurement of loads and forces that lead to musculoskeletal injury.

Sports Therapy 1 represents the first stage of training in becoming a sports therapist and is designed to provide you with an introduction to the role of a sports therapist in assisting injury prevention. You will discover how to competently administer first aid in a sporting context; identify causes and specific types of tissue injury and gain an understanding of the healing processes involved; identify indications, cautions and contraindications of sports massage treatments; and achieve competency in the application of a range of massage and soft tissue treatments. The module provides you with the foundation on which you can build further knowledge, skills and expertise.

Sports Therapy 2 is designed to provide you with an introduction to the role of a sports therapist in helping to prevent injury. You will discover how to identify causes and specific types of tissue injury, the healing processes involved and possible recovery complications. You will also learn how to conduct a competent basic assessment of a sports person in a clinical/practical setting and plan treatment programmes appropriate to specific stages of pathology and tissue healing. A key feature of the module will be the development of examination and assessment skills. The module provides you with the foundation on which you can build further knowledge, skills and expertise.

Anatomy and Physiology equips you with a deeper understanding of anatomy and physiology and its relation to sports therapy. The module provides an enhanced understanding of the application of anatomy and physiology in relation to the sport therapist and their work with elite and recreational athletes. You will conduct competent examinations and assessments of peripheral and spinal regions of the body, analyse the physiological demands of sport specific performance and identify factors that limit performance, and learn how to interpret results of physiological profiles of performers and communicate findings to appropriate audiences.

Kinesiology develops your knowledge and understanding of kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement, in order to link and apply movement principles to the injured athlete. You will discover and apply theories as to why athletes move in a certain way in sports performance and build your understanding of how technique can be adjusted to improve performance and reduce the likelihood of injury. The module will further your knowledge and understanding of the basic anatomical structures and theories relating to the causative factors of injury and the methods of assessment, diagnosis and treatment of biomechanical problems.

Manual Therapy 1 introduces you to the concepts of manual therapy and will involve the development of your skills in both soft tissue and peripheral joint mobilisation. The module provides you with the skills to examine, select and apply appropriate therapeutic interventions in a safe and effective manner in the treatment of injury.  The practical skills-based sessions within this module are used to reinforce the theoretical principles and clinical evidence base introduced in lectures which have been used to inform practice.

Research Methods provides the opportunity to develop the research skills necessary for producing a dissertation, progressing to postgraduate study, and preparing for many jobs in the sport and physical activity sector. You will develop skills in critically evaluating scientific literature, developing research questions, planning and designing meaningful and valid qualitative and quantitative research, and analysing data. Research ethics for human participants are also covered.

Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation introduces the concepts of injury and rehabilitation management supported by evidence based practice strategies adopted by health care professionals. Clinical reasoning will form the ethos of planning and putting together any preventative or treatment strategy.  You will develop skills which enable you to plan progressive rehabilitation programmes across a range of sports and identify an athlete’s readiness to return to play/physical activity, as well as the need to regress a rehabilitation programme where appropriate.

Sports Therapy Clinical Practice provides an opportunity to draw together key aspects of clinical practice to achieve a synthesis of learning. The module will enable you to apply the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation skills in order to manage a range of sports injuries.

Advanced Clinical Practice enables you to draw together key aspects of clinical practice and applied and advanced clinical practice in order to achieve a synthesis of learning. The aim is to provide a practical context in which to apply and evaluate theoretical concepts. You will critically apply the skills of assessment, clinical reasoning and rehabilitation techniques to clients with a range of sports related injuries. You will also critically reflect on personal strengths and weaknesses in the context of the role of a sports therapist. The module provides an opportunity to access, analyse and record clinical data, make reasoned clinical judgements, and determine the appropriateness of assessment protocols.

Dissertation allows you to engage in an in-depth independent research project, specialising your focus on a relevant area of interest.

Rehabilitation Science develops your knowledge and understanding of the concepts of injury and rehabilitation management, with a specific focus on functional approaches, supported by  the evidence-based practice strategies adopted by health care professionals. The module will look at the relationship of physiological rehabilitation and how this is aligned to the more specific physical rehabilitation modes, highlighting the importance of position and sport-specific rehabilitation concepts and the role of the sports therapists in bridging this knowledge gap. You will be exposed to a variety of approaches to the psychology of the injured athlete who is about to be returned to full competitive and contact sport.

Manual Therapy 2 is designed to enhance your manual therapy techniques and assessment skills and enable you to apply manual therapy skills to sports related vertebral problems. You will discover how to examine and assess the joints of the vertebral column and identify the relevance of signs and symptoms encountered, plan and apply appropriate evidence-based manual therapy techniques to the vertebral column in a safe and effective manner, and advise clients on safe and effective preventative and self-treatment measures.

Strength and Conditioning for Sports Therapy furthers your understanding and application of the study of sports therapy, with an applied focus on current initiatives in strength and conditioning. Issues in strength and conditioning will be considered with reference to performance enhancement, rehabilitation and injury prevention. You will develop a specific, distinctive appreciation of strength and conditioning issues across a range of sports, in each case considering the hierarchical needs of the various parameters of conditioning in order to enable you to develop and critically evaluate a periodised rehabilitation plan for selected injury.

Advanced Professional Practice provides an opportunity to draw together key aspects of professional and applied practice to achieve a synthesis of learning. The module enables you to apply theory to practice in applied and vocational settings, undertaking a concerted period of professional experience within the sport and exercise environment. You will benefit from a practical context in which to apply and evaluate theoretical concepts leading to reflection and evaluation of the entire process. The aim is also to increase your awareness of work based culture and enhance your employability through more personally directed development of your practical competencies, self-confidence, clinical reasoning and adaptability. You will also enhance your interactive skills, including teamwork, communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.

Critical Issues in Strength and Conditioning involves the critical analysis and application of contemporary practices in strength and conditioning research. The module will explore the need for different strength and conditioning approaches and programmes, depending on athletes’ needs. This will include the issues of strength and conditioning training for young athletes, senior athletes, and those with particular physical (dis)abilities. You will gain a comprehensive understanding of the empirical foundations of contemporary training methods, systematically design an original planned training programme in a selected sport, and enhance your overall understanding of performance assessment in sport.

Research Dissemination provides you with the opportunity to disseminate your work to an audience beyond that of the completed undergraduate thesis and clinical portfolio. Dissemination is a crucial part of the research process and further enhances your written and oral skills.  This module also highlights vocational demand, where publication is increasingly seen as a marker of esteem. This dissemination may include presenting your work as part of a departmental research seminar series.

Mental Health Awareness for Community Sports Participants and Practitioners will develop your awareness of mental health and illness among community sports participants and practitioners and examine how mental health can be understood in community sport settings. In particular, the module explores the ways in which groups including coaches, volunteers, staff members, managers and other community sport providers can effectively address the mental health needs of sport participants for whom they are responsible, whether in sports programmes or other areas of organisational life. The module reflects upon the opportunities and challenges of promoting positive mental health in community sports organisations, in addition to the workplace setting more broadly, and discusses the role of mentoring, education and peer leadership in developing mental health awareness among those who seek to promote mental health in community sport organisations and settings.

Mental Health Awareness for Performance Sport Athletes and Practitioners will develop your awareness of mental health and illness among performance sport athletes (throughout their careers and post-sport lives) and practitioners. The module will consider how mental health can be understood in performance sport settings and explore the ways in which groups including coaches, welfare officers, performance and support staff, and managers can effectively address the mental health needs of the performance sport athletes for whom they are responsible. Whether in performance settings or other areas of lifestyle management, the module reflects upon the opportunities and challenges of promoting positive mental health in performance sports organisations, as well as in the workplace setting more broadly. The role of mentoring, education and peer leadership in developing mental health awareness among athletes and other performance sports workers will also be discussed.

SPT2220 Research Methods (20 credits) replaces SPT2930 Research for Sports Therapy (20 credits) as a compulsory module in Year 2.

144 UCAS Tariff points will be required to join this integrated Masters degree with effect from September 2023 entry.

The programme is now accredited by The Society of Sports Therapists.