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- In this role you'll diagnose and treat sports injuries
- You'll need experience in the treatment and management of sports injuries
- You could teach physiotherapy to university students
As a sports physiotherapist you'll work with top professional sports people, amateurs or people who do sports as a leisure activity. You could specialise in a particular sport, or in a particular aspect of physiotherapy, like rehabilitation.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Examine and diagnose injuries
- Plan treatment programmes
- Use methods like manipulation, massage and electrotherapy
- Give advice on how to avoid sports injuries
- Keep records of patient's treatment and progress
- Give accurate timescales for when players may be able to play again
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You could work in an NHS or private hospital, on a sports field, at a fitness centre or in a therapy clinic. Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time, you may travel often and the role could be physically demanding.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone with excellent communication skills, experience in the treatment and management of sports injuries, the ability to educate, advise and motivate people, good organisational and administration skills.
You can do a degree in physiotherapy approved by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
You may be able to do a fast-track postgraduate course if you've got a first or upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject like biological science, psychology or sports science. Competition for places on courses is strong. It will help if you have relevant healthcare experience before applying, for example as a physiotherapy assistant. Private physiotherapy clinics, nursing homes and sports clinics may also offer work placements.
You could also start as a physiotherapy assistant and do a part-time degree while you work, to qualify.
Alternatively you can get into this job through a physiotherapist degree apprenticeship.
You'll need to register with the Health and Care Professions Council for this role.
You can join the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy for professional development and networking opportunities.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could teach physiotherapy to university students, or set up your own sports physiotherapy clinic.