module specification

Students are required to undertake 200 supervised clinical practicehours in order to gain eligibility for membership of the professional body The Society of Sports Therapists. All external placements must be authorised by the Course Leader. This module aims to provide the framework for students to undertake these hours and to support their development of professional skills in the working environment. The module also enables students to experience work with injured athletes, players, and exercise participants in a variety of sports therapy environments. The module will run in all three semesters to ensure prerequisites have been passed prior to registration on this module (summer will be the usual registration for both FT and PT). Students are also encouraged to observe practitioners in similar disciplines and engage in professional development activities during and prior to module registration. A log of this activity and the 200 supervised clinical practice hours will be recordedin theirPortfolio of evidence.

Restricted to MSc Sports Therapy

ST7001, ST7002, ST7003, ST7004, ST7005

To provide a framework for enhancing theoretical knowledge and applying professional principles for a sports therapist
To provide an opportunity of working with injured athletes across a variety of sports therapy environments
To familiarise students with the ethical, legal, professional and administrative issues associated with working as a sports therapist
To promote the development of skills required of a sports therapist in the sports therapy environment
To promote students' understanding of the role of The Society of Sports Therapists

The majority of the syllabus for this module will be experiential learning during placement hours.  A number of seminar sessions will be arranged to discuss:
Ethics, legal and professional requirements of a sports therapist and The Society of Sports Therapists
Reporting case notes - orally and in writing
Reflective learning - the relevance to a Sports Therapist.

- Student centred learning – articles, key texts, online resources.
- Sports therapy clinic. All students will spend a period of time working in the clinic where they are supervised by university staff. Learning is experimental and by reflection and discussion in small groups.
- Placements in a variety of sports therapy work environments where they may be supervised assessing, planning and treating a variety of sports injuries. Learning is by discussion and demonstrations. Some of these will be student led seminars where there will be peer feedback on performance.
- Learning will be recorded within the student’s portfolio.
- A number of seminar sessions exploring areas relating to ethics and professional considerations, case notes and therapy related skills.

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate appropriate and safe skills in a sports therapy environment
2. Appreciate the ethical, legal and professional obligations of a graduate sports therapist.
3. Understand what is required to achieve membership of the professional body.
4. Understand the contemporary issues comfronting Sports Therapists in the UK in relation to regulation.
5. Communicate case information succinctly, orally and in writing, to an appropriate audience.
6. Develop skills through personal reflection.

1. Athlete case study oral presentation (20min) (40%) The presentation will require the student to present a multidisciplinary athlete case study conducted during the module that they have experienced first-hand (LO 2, 5, 6)
2. Practical assessment (25min) (30%) The practical assessment is designed to assess the student’s clinical competence in interpreting case notes and planning sports therapy treatments
(LO 1, 5)
3. Reflective essay (1600 words) (30%)
(LO 2, 3, 6)
4. Portfolio of evidence.This must include placement authorisation paperwork and clearly reported completion of hours(0%)
(LO 2, 3, 4, 6)
A mark of at least 50% must be obtained in all assessment components, in accordance with the requirements of The Society of Sports Therapy which provides accreditation.
Pass all components.

1. Andrews, J.R. Harrelson G.L and Wilk, K.E (2012) Physical rehabilitation of the injured athlete, 4th Edition. W.B. Saunders Company, London
2. Arnheim, D. D and Prentice, W.E (2010) Principles of athletic training (14th edition) WBD McGraw-Hill Boston, USA
3. Brukner P & Khan K (2012) Clinical Sports Medicine. McGraw Hill
4. Buschbacher R., Prahlow, N., Dave, S.J. (2008) Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation - A Sports Specific Approach. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN: 0781777453
5. Fox, J. and Sharp, T. (2007) Practical Electrotherapy: A Guide to Safe Application. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 978-0-443-06855-3
6. Konin, J.G., Wiksten, D.L., Isear, J.A (2006) Special Tests for Orthopaedic Examination (Spiral bound) 3rd ed, Slack Inc, ISBN: 1556427417  
7. Pargman, D. (2007) Psychological Bases of Sports Injury, 3rd Ed, Fitness Information Technology, ISBN: 1885693753
8. Prentice. W.E (2010) Rehabilitation techniques in sports medicine, 5th edition. WCB McGraw-Hill, Boston, USA
9. Palastanga, Field and Soames (2009) Anatomy and Human Movement: Structure and Function (5th Ed). Butterworth and Heinemann
10. Robertson, V., Ward, A., Low, J. and Reed, A. (2006) Electrotherapy Explained – Principles and Practice. 4th Edition. Butterworth Heinemann. ISBN: 0-7506-8843-2
11. Watson, T. (Ed) (2008). Electrotherapy – Evidence Based Practice. 12th Edition. Churchill Livingstone. ISBN: 978-0-443-10179-3