hempstead valley therapy centre

What is Sports Therapy?

How can it help you?

Our HTC Team gives an overview of this type of therapy…

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.

Although titled ‘Sports Therapist’, a Sports Therapist therapy spectrum is quite wide. They can adapt their expertise to aid assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of everyday injuries as also work-related Musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders (e.g. RSI, lower back pain, etc.) and also assist in alleviating symptoms of common medical issues such as Osteo-arthritis.

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What is a Sports Therapist?

A 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 programs

  • 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 programs.

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. These are:

 
  • PREVENTION
  • RECOGNITION & EVALUATION
  • MANAGEMENT, TREATMENT & REFERRAL
  • REHABILITATION
  • EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE ISSUES

Within each of these areas, Society Members, and specifically those at Graduate level, are trained and educated in principles that have sound practical and evidence-based philosophies with solid sport and exercise science foundations.

As such, Sports Therapists who are Members of The Society of Sports Therapists are required to meet clearly defined competency levels that cover the breadth of the above areas and gives them the knowledge, skills, and ability to work at all levels of the sport and exercise continuum.

Here at HTC our Sports Therapist Meghan Blaikie works closely together with experienced, Senior Physiotherapists, Osteopaths, Podiatrists, and supporting therapists to provide first-class care for all visiting clients/patients.