What is a Sports Therapist

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Sports Therapy is an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with the prevention of injury and the rehabilitation of the patient back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sports specific fitness, regardless of age and ability.

It utilises the principles of sport and exercise science incorporating physiological and pathological processes to prepare the participant for training, competition and where applicable, work.

Sports Therapist is a distinct occupational title that applies to a clearly defined scope of practice.A Sports Therapist, who is a Member of The Society of Sports Therapists is an allied health professional who has the knowledge, skills and ability to:

• utilise sports and exercise principles to optimise performance, preparation and injury prevention programmes

• provide the immediate care of injuries and basic life support in a recreational, training, occupational & competitive environment

• assess, treat, rehabilitate and, where and if appropriate, refer on for specialist advice and intervention.

• provide appropriate soft tissue interventions in a sport & exercise context

• plan and implement appropriate rehabilitation and return to training/work programmes

Key areas of competency

The spectrum of expertise that a Member of The Society of Sports Therapists (SST) must possess is built upon five key areas of competency related to injury and illness in a sport and exercise environment.