BSc (Hons)Sport and Exercise Therapy

Core modules

Functional Human Anatomy and Kinesiology

On this module you'll be guided through progressive depths of detail pertaining to the musculoskeletal system, including that of the upper and lower limbs and an introduction to the anatomy of the spine. You’ll become comprehensive in your knowledge of the structure of the key peripheral joints and their available movements in the three planes.

Lower Limb Sports Injuries and Assessment

This module aims to introduce you to the role of the Sports Therapist in the clinical assessment and treatment of lower limb injury. The practical component will enable you to develop your clinical handling and communication skills.

Sports Massage and Soft Tissue Interventions

On this module you'll learn about different types of massage and soft tissue interventions, appraising when these would be most beneficial. This, alongside an introduction to the effects of the techniques, will enable you to begin developing into an autonomous practitioner. You'll explore the biological and cellular process in the body when an injury occurs, and how this may affect treatment techniques.

Clinical Pathophysiology for Sports Therapists

By the end of the module, you'll have developed an evidence based and scientific awareness of clinical human physiology and pathophysiology through the review of current literature and theory. You’ll be able to describe the basic structural and functional requirements of a variety of relevant cell types using technical terminology.

Sports Coaching and Fitness Instruction

In addition to learning the theories that underpin the subject of sports coaching and fitness instruction in sport, you'll engage with various topics and learning styles and opportunities. These topics range from coaching topics such as coaching and learning styles, needs analysis, differentiation and progression, long term athletic development and fundamental movement skills.

Research Methods for Sport Performance

This module will orientate you in the key skills associated with that of an “informed citizen”. You’ll be encouraged to demonstrate the steps required to undertake a small-scale sport performance-related research project. This will include recognising the need for the research and the acquisition of high-quality evidence to support the work. In short, you'll be taking the role of a project-manager.

Core modules

Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation

On this module you’ll learn about the structure of an exercise rehabilitation plan and will be given the opportunity throughout the module to plan, implement and evaluate your own programmes. You'll be given the knowledge that will allow you to progress and make modifications to sessions while also identifying when a regression may be necessary. This module will give you the baseline knowledge to justify the use of your chosen exercises and allow you the opportunity to utilise specialist rehabilitation equipment.

Spinal Assessment and Mobilisation

This module will develop your critical awareness of manual therapy and mobilisation techniques to the vertebral joints of the body. Topics covered will include: Common conditions/ injuries of the spine, including aetiology, appropriate clinical features and their management and clinical reasoning skills to develop a rational approach to the selection of manual techniques.

Upper Limb Sports Injuries and Assessment

This module will develop your critical awareness of the assessment and management of upper limb peripheral joints of the body. Within the practical component you will develop your clinical handling skills and communication skills with injured athletes. You'll have the opportunity to develop your knowledge of anatomy, mechanisms of injuries, signs and symptoms, findings on examination and assessment, and treatment of injuries.

Physiological Testing for Sport and Exercise

This module builds upon the knowledge learnt in level 4 and develops this further through the application of knowledge to a sporting environment. You'll be introduced to the critical processes of writing a needs analysis, data collection and appropriate testing protocols for a range of athletes and sports.

Sport and Exercise Biomechanics

On this module you’ll investigate underpinning theory concerning the protocols used, as well as gain practical awareness of related software and techniques. You will also learn to process the resulting data in order to make meaningful and appropriate interpretation of athletes’ actions in relation to injury occurrence and/ or injury prevention.

Applied Research and Study Design in Sports Performance

On this module, you'll learn how to investigate discipline specific issues using both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry. Building on the work covered at level 4, you will demonstrate how to formulate an ethically sound and objective research question based on a comprehensive review of the literature.

Placement year

For the full duration of the placement year you’ll have the opportunity to undertake clinical practice at a sporting club or organisation for a complete season/performance cycle. The indicative content will ultimately vary upon the nature of the professional placement. We have excellent links with local and national sports clubs and organisations, which provide relevant part-time work and mentoring opportunities. You can work alongside community and elite athletes.

Core modules

Applied Sport and Exercise Rehabilitation

This module will look at injury prevention and the different techniques used to detect the likelihood of injury and prevent injury. It will introduce common surgical procedures and how this may affect your approach to rehabilitation.

Sports Trauma and Applied Clinical Practice

This module provides an opportunity to draw together key aspects of sports therapy with applied and advanced clinical practice to achieve a synthesis of learning. It also provides an opportunity to build on the knowledge, understanding and practical competencies gained across your degree enabling you to apply the assessment, diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitation skills developed in previous modules to manage sports injuries.

Peripheral Joint Mobilisations

The content of this module builds on previous modules, chiefly Lower & Limb Sports Injuries Assessment and Spinal Assessment and Mobilisation. Topics covered will include: Research findings and current trends in mobilisations and manual therapy; principles of examination and assessment.

Sport and Exercise Therapy Placement

You’ll be expected to undertake a period of professional experience that enables you to develop, apply and reflect on your clinical practice across the core areas of sport and exercise therapy. The indicative content will ultimately vary upon the nature of the clinical placement. You'll be expected to take responsibility for a patient caseload; examining, assessing, treating and managing athletes under the supervision of a specialist clinical mentor.

Independent Project

This module will provide you with an opportunity to gain experience of undertaking a degree-related independent investigation in either a work-based, or academic environment. In both instances, your work will need to be underpinned by evidence-based theory and will contribute to the existing body of knowledge relating to that area of research.