Sports Therapist

Sports Therapists use their knowledge and skills to treat sporting injuries, advise on injury prevention and support rehabilitation, using a range of physical techniques and therapies.

You will provide advice, perform massages and suggest stretches to help prevent or recover from a sports injury. Your patients could 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 will refer the patient to an appropriate healthcare professional.

Sports Therapist is also known as Massage Therapist.

Role Characteristics

Conduct and document assessments for injuries and fitness levels
Carry out therapy and fitness tests through massage, strapping, taping and directing warm-up sessions
Test joints for ease and range of movement, pain and dysfunction
Educate groups to improve their preparation and prevention capabilities
Provide advice and education on diet, nutrition and lifestyle issues
Develop long-term rehabilitation plans alongside other health care professionals

Skills

Active listening
Advice giving
Communication
Empathy
Specialist skills
Operating equipment

Day in the life

Find out more about studying Sports Therapy at Leeds City College.

Routes into this role

Here are some example routes that can lead into this role.

Volunteering or work experience

GCSEs

A-Levels

An apprenticeship

Undergraduate degree

How to become

There are many routes into Sports Therapist; these include university or college courses. You will normally need 5 GCSEs including English, maths, and sciences, or equivalent. You will normally need either A-Levels, BTEC or T-Levels depending on your preference in learning. However, volunteering and work experience is valued by employers.

Although a degree is not mandatory for a Sports Therapist, most employers will favour this level of education.

It is important to check your preferred course provider's entry requirements for guidance.

It is good practice to be registered with the General Council for Soft Tissue Therapies (GCMT)

Where can this role lead

No matter what role you start in or where you are in your career path, there are always opportunities to develop and progress in health and care.

With further training, you could become a Personal Trainer, supporting people with their fitness goals. Or you could become a Sports and Exercise Scientist, understanding the human body, its shape, how it works and moves, and how people think about physical activity. You would work with athletes and sports people and help them to become better at what they do.