Recent Graduate Emma Gregory gives us the low down on Sport’s Therapy BSc and the career options her degree can offer:
What is Sports Therapy and where will it take me?
The Society of Sports Therapists (The people who insure you) define Sports Therapy as an aspect of healthcare that is specifically concerned with injury prevention and rehabilitation back to optimum levels of functional, occupational and sport specific fitness regardless of age and ability.
We help reduce the risk of injuries and if someone does become injured, we won’t just help them get back to walking or reaching above their head, but back to their previous standard of sport/exercise or higher!
5 things you can do with a BSc Sports Therapy degree (SST)
1.Work with a sports team
This one is self-explanatory! People who play sport are very likely to become injured at some point, especially in contact sports. When that happens, they need someone to fix them so they can play again. (Definitely my favourite part about the job). You also gain first aid qualifications doing a Sports Therapy degree which means you’ll be attending games as the first responder if anyone does become injured.
2. Work in an Injury Clinic
If you don’t fancy standing on the side of a cold pitch, (My hat collection has grown massively) then you could work in a warm clinic. You’ll see a wide range of people here who need help returning to different levels of fitness so it can be quite exciting. You also have the choice of working in someone else’s clinic or becoming self-employed and setting up your own clinic.
3. Work in the NHS
Just because it has sports in the title doesn’t mean you can only work with athletes. It isn’t unheard of that Graduate Sports Therapists have gone on to work in the NHS in various roles including: rehabilitation therapist, physiotherapy technical instructor and, senior therapy assistant.
4. Conduct Research (Someone’s got to do it)
Understandably, this probably isn’t the reason you’ll choose to do this course! But you may enjoy critically analysing treatments, or you may enjoy finding new ways of doing things. If so, research is a possible route to follow post-graduation. After all, someone has to do it so us practicing sports therapists know what to do!
5. Work in Education
If you don’t want to part with the education environment, then you could become a lecturer in FE or HE and pass on your new-found knowledge. If you don’t fancy teaching, then there are also roles in education such as a supervisor or technical demonstrator.
Overall, I had a great experience on the Sports Therapy course, and the skills I gained helped me get where I wanted to be post-graduation.
Since June, I have mainly worked with sports teams like, The Worcester Wolves at their Valencia summer camp, semi-pro rugby, mini and youth rugby and, U18 football. I’ve also worked on charity events and private clients. Looking towards the future, I am working on publishing my dissertation and completing a myofascial cupping course at the end of the month.
Maybe Sport’s Therapy could be for you?
Worcester Student Life 